The architecture of humanism; a study in the history of taste

(Ben Green) #1
18

THE

ARCHITECTURE OF

HUMANISM

workingsofanimaginationtoo

swiftand

restlessto

abidethefulfilmentofitsowncreations.

Inthisthe

Renaissance stands alone.

J

The

mediaeval Gothic

hadindeedbeenequallyrapid,

andequallyoblivious

ofitspast,sorapid andsooblivious

thatfewofits

principal buildings were completed in the style in

which they were begun.

Nevertheless it pursued

one undeviating course of constructive

evolution.

Beside this scientific zeal the achievement of the

Italian
buildersmight

appear,
at

first sight,
to

be

as confused in aim as it was fertile in invention.

Contrastit
withthecumulative

labour,theintensive

concentration,
by which the idea of Greek atchi-

tecture, ever reiterated, was sharpened to its per-

fection, and the Renaissance in Italy seems
hut

a

pageant of great suggestions.
Set it beside the


antiquestylesoftheEast,compareitwiththemonu-


mental immobilitywhich for
eighteencenturieswas


maintained in the architectural tradition of Egypt,

and it might pass for
an energy disquieted and^:


frivolous.
Yet,ateveryinstantinthebriefsequence


of
itsforms,itispowerfulandit
isconvinced
;

and

fromthecontrolofits
influenceEuropehasattempted


tofreeitselfinvain.

Weshall seek withoutsuccess,

amongconditions

externaltoart, for
causes adequate
toan effectso

varied,soviolent,
andso
far-reaching.

The revolu*

tions
whicharchitecture
underwentin
Italy,fromthe
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