How to Study European Renaissance Architecture

By eHow Education Editor

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European Renaissance architecture is a broad subject that's best studied when narrowed down to a particular time period, specific place or even individual architect. Once you have a good grasp on the broad overview of the topic, you can begin to understand the details. Use these steps as a guide to start you on your way to becoming an expert.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Choose a specific country or period of interest. Renaissance architecture developed first in Florence and then spread throughout Italy. Then it cropped up in the Netherlands and spread from there to the rest of Europe. So if you're interested in early Renaissance architecture, focus on Italy; for late Renaissance, focus elsewhere in Europe.

Step2

Concentrate at first on the three most notable architects of the time. Filippo Brunelleschi is considered the first Renaissance architect. Leon Battista Alberti was an early designer in Florence and Mantua who wrote extensively on art and architecture. Andrea Palladio specialized in villas rather than churches and also wrote on architectural theory.

Step3

Use what you've learned about the three big names from Step 2 to understand how their architectural theories relate both to their classical predecessors and to their fellow Renaissance successors. Renaissance architecture was inspired by the temples and buildings of the ancient Romans.

Step4

Buy or borrow some books on the subject. "Renaissance Art and Architecture" by Gordon Campbell, and "Discoveries: Architecture of the Renaissance," by Bertrand Jestaz are good places to start.

Tips & Warnings

When studying art or architecture, there's no substitute for seeing the works in real life. Pictures and descriptions can only take you so far and at some point, you'll need to get up close and personal. Plan a culture-rich vacation to a city with a large number of Renaissance buildings if you can.