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

20 THE

ARCHITECTURE OF

HUMANISM

Already

inthetwelfthcentury

therehad

beenafalse

dawnofclassic

style. Indeed,it

seems

evidentthat

mediaevalartcould

exercisebutatemporary

dominion

amongpeopleswho,

howeverlittle ofthe

authentic

Romanstraintheymight

legitimatelyboast, yetby

the

origin of theirculturestood

planted in Roman

civilisation. Classicformsin Italywere

indigenous

andboundtoreappear. And

thisfactisimportant.

It

enables us to dismiss that unintelligentview of

Renaissance

architecture, oncefashionable,andstill

occasionallyputforward,whichregardsitasapedan-

tic affectation, or perverse return to a manner of

building that was alien and extinct. But it

is

a

fact which in no way helps us to understand the

preciseformofclassicculturewhichthe Renaissance

assumed. Itdoesnotexplainthecharacter,number,

and varietyof its phases. And it tells nothing of

classic culture in itself. Racial considerations are

heretoogeneralandtoovague.

The field of politics might seem more fruitful.

Thegrowth ofthe newstyleis undoubtedlyassoci-

ated, at Florence, Milan,
Naples and other

city

states,withtherisetopoweroftheItalian

'

tyrants,'

themselves anotherecho of antiquity,
and

another

characteristic expression
of the Renaissance, with

its cult for individuality
and power. Cosimo I.,

whom Michelozzo

followed into

exile at

Venice,?)

Lorenzo, the protector
of Giuliano
da

Sangallo,