Key Concepts in Renaissance and Gothic Art & Architecture

Ashlar Padding

A type of masonry facing where the visible face of the stones is carved with a cushioned or pillowed appearance. The joints are beveled or recessed to create a sense of relief. This technique is typical of Renaissance architecture from the 15th and 16th centuries. In Spain, the most characteristic example is the Palacio de Carlos V in the Alhambra of Granada, designed by Pedro Machuca in the sixteenth century.

Balusters and Balustrades

A baluster is a molded column with a profile composed of squares and curves, featuring successive widenings and narrowings. Balusters are used to decorate and support the handrails of balconies, terraces, corridors, and stairways. A series of balusters forms a balustrade, which is the complete railing system. This feature is typical of architecture from the Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries).

Grotesque Ornamentation

An ornamental style consisting of fantastic creatures—human, animal, and plant—linked and combined to form a composite whole. It is a decorative theme of the Renaissance, inspired by designs found in ancient Roman buildings, such as the Domus Aurea of Nero. A grotesque design generally consists of a head or a human or animal torso at the top, which terminates in an elaborate arrangement of plant elements at the bottom. An example is the facade of the University of Salamanca, a Plateresque work from the early sixteenth century.

Mannerism

Emerging in the third decade of the sixteenth century, Mannerism was an anti-classical reaction that called into question the Renaissance ideals of beauty and harmony. The origin of the concept is the Italian expression "alla maniera di..." (meaning "in the manner of..."), referring to the style of masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo. Mannerism is characterized by an artificial and stylized quality, emphasizing:

• Excess and exaggeration
• Strong contrasts
• Intellectual curiosity and sophistication
• Intricate compositions

This style is evident in architecture, sculpture, and painting of the period.

Sfumato Technique

The great pictorial innovation of Leonardo da Vinci, sfumato is a painting technique that dispenses with the sharp, precise outlines characteristic of the Quattrocento. Instead, it wraps subjects in a soft, hazy atmosphere that blurs contours and creates a seamless transition between colors and tones. This effect produces an impression of total immersion in the atmosphere, giving the landscape a mysterious, distant, and enigmatic quality. The most famous example is Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa from the sixteenth century.

Architectural Bracket

A bracket is an architectural element that projects from a wall or other flat surface to support or carry another element, such as sculptures, balconies, or cornices. In the Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries), excellent examples can be seen in the architecture of the vestibule of the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo, from the sixteenth century.

Gothic Spire

A spire is the pointed top of a tower, typically conical or pyramidal in shape, resembling a sharp arrowhead. Also known as a needle or fleche, it is a characteristic feature of Gothic architecture (13th to 15th centuries). A notable example is the spires of the Cathedral of Burgos, designed by Juan de Colonia in the mid-fifteenth century.