Andrea Palladio: biography, works

The greatest Italian architect Andrea Palladio even after 500 years remains an example for imitation and admiration. His influence on world architecture can not be overemphasized, the Palladian style is the only one in the world named after a separate master. The master had a lot of successes and discoveries, his life was not simple, but was harmonious, like his buildings.

Family and childhood

November 30, 1508 in the family of a simple miller in Padua, a boy was born, called him Andrea, from his father he received a second name - Pietro, and the name - della Gondola. The times were tough for children, the poor did not have to go to school, since from childhood it was necessary to work. Moreover, the boy remains an orphan, and he must earn a piece of bread himself. Andrea already at the age of 13 became an assistant in the workshop of a stone carver. There he will receive the first practical experience in stone processing, learned about his capabilities, which was useful to him in the future. Working conditions were slavish, and after a while Andrea fled to Vicenza, where he arranged an apprentice for a workshop of famous sculptors. So he falls into the circle of people who will determine his fate.

Becoming a profession

At first, he mastered the profession of stone, composes friezes and capitals. Employers help him join the guild of masons, and he receives a stable income. In Vicenza, he gets access to a circle of people close to art, and draws closer to the humanist Janjorjo Trissino who permeates the fate of the orphan and takes on the role of his mentor and patron. It is he who insists that Andrea study the monuments of Greek and Roman architecture, get acquainted with the culture of antiquity. Andrea studies the works of Vitruvius, as well as various treatises on art and architecture. He travels through Italy, examines, sketches and even measures outstanding monuments of ancient architecture, visits Croatia and France. Trissino became the first customer of the future architect and insisted that he take a more euphonious name and become Andrea Palladio, in honor of Athena Pallada. Becomes the architect Andrea only by the age of 30, but by this time he has a wealth of knowledge on the principles of ancient architecture.

In 1534, Trissino instructs his ward to work on his own villa, so appears the first work of Palladio - the Villa Cricoli in the center of Vicenza. The first work, as well as numerous acquaintances, which Andrea acquired thanks to the protection of Trissino, open the young architect the way to the profession.

First successes

In the next 10 years, Andrea Palladio builds villas, one building takes about 2-3 years, the architect not only creates the project, but also manages the construction of the structure and the design of the landscape. From the very beginning of his career Palladio realizes his own principles, he adheres to the idea that the building should look whole, combined with the territory and environment. He carefully thought through the points of inspection of his buildings, he had a true town-planning vision. Since 1540, he has been awarded several orders for the creation of the palazzo, which are an important step in the crystallization of the Palladio style.

In 1545, the architect wins a tender for the implementation of the project for the reconstruction of the Town Hall in Vicenza. The old building was dilapidated and became scarce for the needs of the city. Andrea offers a radical restructuring, creates two-tiered arches, using the warrant not as part of the decor, but as an important constructive element. This allows him to create a harmonious composition of the building and increase the useful area. Beauty is closely intertwined with practicality. The building today is an object protected by UNESCO, and an important decoration of the city. This project makes Andrea famous, and he can claim the fulfillment of the largest orders.

City of Andrea Palladio

The architect was eager to work in the capital, but with Venice he had a difficult relationship. Although he built several very significant buildings there. But he himself did not suspect that his true glory would be another city. Few architects are happy to become the progenitors of the town-planning concept. Andrea Palladio, whose biography is firmly connected with Vicenza, received such a chance. During his life, he created in this city and its surroundings a lot of luxurious buildings that make up the glory of this place and attract tourists from all over the world. The street of his name, Corso Andrea Palladio is an exhibition of his creations. Here he was able not only to embody the talent of the architect, but also to work as the creator of the city. The layout of the street and the two main squares are set by him and are designed for human perception. The buildings impress with the harmony, grandeur and thoughtfulness of the details. Vicenza became a real gift for the architect, here he was able to realize many designs, although some of them remained unfinished after his death in 1580. Some buildings were completed by his students. But in general, the city embodies the greatness of the architect, it's not for nothing that every aspiring architect strives to Vicenza to see this classics with his own eyes.

The main buildings and heritage of the architect

Andrea Palladio, whose works make up the gold foundation of the architecture of the late Renaissance, left a significant legacy to the descendants. Of his most significant projects can be called: the villa of Rotona, the Basilica of Palladio, the church in Venice of San Giorgio Maggiore, the Olimpico Theater, the Loggia del Capitano. The architecture of Andrea Palladio is distinguished by solemnity, thoughtful continuation of ancient principles and traditions. In total, after the architect there are more than 80 buildings of different scale throughout Italy.

In addition to buildings, the architect left a legacy in the form of monumental work "Four books on architecture" and several treatises on the monuments of architecture of the Ancient World. These books have become textbooks for many generations of architects and have played a pivotal role in the formation of great styles: baroque and classicism.

The influence of Palladio on the world architecture

The work of Andrea Palladio left an indelible mark on the world architecture. Today the buildings in the classical style, which was formed thanks to Palladio, is in all developed countries. Andrea Palladio, whose short biography fits in two words: "palladian style", became the founder of a whole direction of "the name of yourself," which no longer happened in the history of architecture. European architecture of the XVII-XVIII centuries was created under the direct impression of the works of Palladio and on the basis of his principles.

Palladio and Russia

Andrea Palladio also left his mark in Russian architecture. Two of his passionate followers, Giacomo Quarenghi and Charles Cameri, in the XVII century formed the face of the Northern capital. Later, Russian architects who had absorbed the principles of Palladio, build a huge number of buildings in the classical style in Moscow and many other cities. The last surge of interest in the legacy of Andrea Palladio is the Stalin Empire, which is based on its aesthetic principles.