Post on 18-Jul-2015
Introduction
Religious Building around the world
Historical Background
Structure & Layout
Types of Ornaments used
Type of materials used
Where ? Why ?
The Baroque Period
History of the Western arts that roughly coinciding in the 17th century.
Occurs after the Renaissance Period.
One of the most famous building from Baroque Period is St. Peter’s Basilica.
Background of St. Peter’s Basilica
Located in Vatican City, Italy.
Known as the second St. Peter’s Basilica.
It is believed that the location of Saint Peter’s tomb is located directly below
the altar of the Basilica.
The construction began in the 1500’s.
18th April 1506, Julius II laid the first stone of the new Basilica.
Construction took about 120 years.
Completed on 18th November 1626.
Function of St. Peter’s Basilica
Famous as a place of pilgrimage and for its liturgical functions.
It was built as a funerary church, to house the tomb of Saint Peter and the
tombs of Christians.
Most functions were commemorative rites for those who were buried there.
4 main architects that contributed to the
St. Peter’s Basilica
Donato BramanteMichelangelo
Carlo MadernoGian Lorenzo Bernini
<< Drawing by Michelangelo
detailing the reconstruction of St.
Peter's basilica, originally built by
Constantine in 323 A.D.
Michelangelo used Brunelleschi's
dome as a starting point. The inner
shell is more hemispherical while the
outer is vertical.
Like Brunelleschi's it is held together
with a lantern topper.
>>>
Structure of St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s was designed according to clear and rigorous constructive
principles.
Total area of 44000 square meter and 219 meter of the basilica itself.
The facade is about the size of a soccer field with a width of 114 meters and
a height of 46 meters, being one of the most beautiful churches ever built.
Dominant feature is the bilateral symmetry.
Both in the Basilica and in Square and Colonnade.
Circular form.
With Dome and the two branches of the Colonnade.
The image presented
here shows how the
various parties have
been named, through the
use of SketchUp layers,
which allows us to gain
greater control at design
time on the various
aspects of the model,
characterizing the
portions of the model and
allowing us to control
them separately without
losing the sight of the
whole.
Floor plan of St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica floor plan is cruciform in shape, with an elongated shape
of the Latin cross.
It has a parabolic dome with a double column lantern.
Diagram is showing floor plan
with cruciform shape, interlocking
spaces, and centralized
organizations respectively.
Dome
Michelangelo is the designer and his design intention is dynamic organisms metaphors
of the human body.
It is directly above Bernini’s Baldachino supported by four gigantic piers.
It is divided into 16 segments divided by ribs, with a window at the base of each
segment.
The mosaics and patterns were designed by Giuseppi Cesari.
It is possible to climb up to the top of dome of St Peter’s to enjoy the fantastic city
panorama all around Rome.
St. Peter’s Bernini Baldachino
A large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy, technically called a ciborium or baldachin.
It stands under Michelangelo’s Dome and acts as a visual centerpiece to the nave.
It was built to mark in a monumental way and Saint Peter’s tomb is underneath it.
Chapel of the Pieta The Pieta is a world-famous work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo
Buonarroti.
It balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism.
Lots of chemical restoration methods and experiments were done.
Located at the right of the entrance and is now protected by a bulletproof acrylic
glass panel.
Statues
13 symbolic statues which are the founder saints.
Represent Christ the Redeemer, St. John the Baptist and 11 Apostles.
Doors
Holy door
i. Represents Jesus and is
normally sealed.
ii. Opened during Holy Year
(Jubilee) every 25 years.
iii. Eight sacraments and
preaching on the panel.
Door of Death
i. Bronze door sculpted by Giacomo Manzu.
ii. Acts as an exit for funeral processions.
iii. Ten panels which represent death.
Door of Good and Evil
i. Made of bronze and was
designed by the artist
Luciano Minguzzi.
ii. Theme of the ancient
conflict between good and
evil.
Travertine
Main material of Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Is a sedimentary rock.
Is a very durable material, and high quality.
Has the appearance of a fibrous or concretic material, and is tan, white, or cream-
colored.
Marble
Is a non-foliated metamorphic rock.
Common colours are white and milk-white.
The interior of the Basilica is decorated with many marble sculptures.
One of the most famous marble sculptures within the Basilica is Michelangelo’s Piet.
Conclusion
One of the largest and holiest churches in the world.
Used enormous amount of time, money, and resources.
Shows a strategic use of material, construction techniques, engineering principles
and restoration.
References
http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/monumenti/basilica-di-s-
pietro.html
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-st-peters-basilica
https://engineeringrome.wikispaces.com/The+Engineering+Behind+Saint+Peter%27s+
Basilica
http://www.rometoolkit.com/whattodo/vatican_stpeters.htm
http://www.italian-architecture.info/ROME/RO-025.htm
http://www.digital-
images.net/Gallery/Scenic/Rome/Churches/StPeters_Int/stpeters_int.html
http://vatican.com/articles/info/the_holy_door_st_peter%E2%80%99s_basilica-a1111