Re: Help on architecture

[Nguyen Xuan Long <xuanlong@postech.ac.kr>]

Hi Tua^'n, anh Tha'i Linh and all, 
Anh Tha'i Linh has given some thorough insights in terms of artistic
style of many different architectural trends Tua^'n has mentioned.
I am too very much interested in this topic; so let me add a few lines
about *history* of these architectures. 
Since it's history, I guess there might be many incorrect points :-) 

>     Gothic
( came after Roman art, and the early medieval art period)

Gothic style began at around 11th-12th centuries, in the midst of 
of medieval period. By this time, Europe fell in chaos.
The continent was divided into small territories each ruled by a
landlord. European people became victims of numerous bloody wars
between these landlords. There were no powerful nations at the time
after the collapse of the once mighty Roman empire. This was the time
the belief in God/ Jesus revived. Christanity, after many years of
being neglected became prevalent. People too desperated with the
real life, began to belief in an after-life period that is peaceful
and prosperous. To express their belief, attitute toward Jesus,
and to make a place where people could come in and share their common
rather than making wars, there came Gothic cathedrals. 

The unprecedented style of Gothic architecture - by the use of vault
and flying buttress to support extremely high wall made out of tiny
bricks - was made possible because of both the remarkable advance 
in construction engineering at that time and especially, the unshakable
belief in and devotion of people to their common cause that allowed them 
to build such daring architectures as never before. Other words, Gothic 
Cathedrals were built out of the imagination of people of God-world. Thus
everything is unusual and not natural. When a man walks into such
a cathedral, he was supposed to walk into the God's world that is
mysterious, infinite ( by the infinite height) and full of light ( by 
many glass windows each of which decorates a story of God). The most notable 
architecture of this style should be the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.  

>     Renaissance
Renaissance style began at around early 15 century in Italy. The first
notable architecture of this kind is the Florence cathedral. The daring
in Gothic was partially eliminated while the classic style of Greek and
Roman architectures was strongly revived during this period. Remember
that this style started from Florence, and then it branched into several
subbranches from different places ( Venice, Northern Europe ( Netherland,
Germany, etc,...).

>	Baroque
The Renaissance period witnessed great progress in trade, transportation,..
in Western Europe. As people are better-off and became less desparate
than they were during the medieval period, they became more practical
and less interested in religions. The Church was worried about this.
The St. of Peter Cathedral in Vatican( which is one of the most famous
Baroque architectures and which was initially and partially builted  and
decorated by Michelangelo) was an attempt to re-emphasize the ideal
of Jesus and Christianity and to win back the heart of people. 
Therefore, as in Gothic style, Baroque architecture was extremely subtle, 
complex and glamourous. 
Another architecture of this kind but that served a different purpose 
was the Palace of Versaille during the reign of the powerful the Louis 
14(?). The same extravagant style of this Palace was to demonstrate
the greatness of the ambitious king.

>     Romanesque
Or Roman-like. Romanesque architectures employ the bunky, massive
style of classic Roman art. Should be along with Romanesque style
is Greek-like style. These two are not enlisted as at the same table
with Gothic or Renaissance trends. Actually, Greeco-Romanesque style
was incorporated into what we call the Renaissance style. 
Generally, any architectures that immitate style of Greek art ( 
simple and beautiful capitals and columns,...typically in the Parthenon) 
and Roman art ( that is Greek-like plus the bunkiness and massiveness 
typically in the Coloseum)  is called Greeco-Romanesque (sp?)

>     Neo-Romanesque

I don't remember any architectures of this kind. But I think
this style began at the end of Baroque and the start of
Romanticism. One typical painting ( a little bit off-topic here :-))
is David's "The Oath of the Horatii's" (sp??).

Well, that's too much for now. Hope this would do you some help.
Cheers, Long.