2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
Donato di Pascuccio d'Antonio (1444–1514), better known as Donato Bramante, belongs to the great masters of the Renaissance. Born under the bright sun and blue sky of Italy, familiar from childhood with the best monuments of Antiquity, they created not just great works of art, but an entire historical era.
The beginning of creativity
Raised in a peasant family in the Duchy of Urbino, Donato first studied painting and excelled at mural painting, which was fashionable at the time, creating the illusion of extra space. But already as a child, according to his biographer Giorgio Vasari, he was fond of geometry and did mathematical calculations for the construction of buildings.
Despite the fame of Donato Bramante, his biography is far from complete. Information about the early years of the architect's work is very scarce, it is only known that he traveled a lot, performing minor orders in Urbino, Bergamo, Mantua, Florence and other Italian cities. The main result of these wanderings was experience and knowledge, which were formed not only in the process of work, but also under the influence of meetings with outstanding masters of that time.
In the circle of the greats
On the work of Bramantefamous architects, artists and sculptors of Italy influenced: Filippo Brunelleschi, Ercole de Roberti, Andrea Mantegna and others. Of great importance for Donato was the meeting with Leonardo da Vinci, with whom he closely communicated. But it happened later, when Bramante had already become a recognized master. Together with Leonardo, he worked on the architectural problems of the design of the lantern - a special superstructure on the dome of buildings, which not only performed a decorative function, but also served for lighting and ventilation.
Painting
The first period of the artist's work was associated with painting, although already then Bramante was making sketches and sketches of ancient ruins and drawing sketches and drawings of buildings.
The only surviving painting of the master is "Christ at the Column" - wood painting in the abbey of Chiaravalle, near Milan. The artist managed to create a very realistic and tragic image that has a strong emotional impact on the viewer. The painting itself demonstrates the artistic technique inherent in Donato Bramante - creating the illusion of a huge space.
Interior decoration has always attracted Donato more than subject painting, and his technique of depicting architectural space has influenced the work of Italian artists such as Ambrogio Bergognone, Bernardo Zenale and others.
But the passion for architecture turned out to be stronger, and in the 80s the master devoted himself completely to this area. Cardinal Ascanio Sforza drew attention to DonatoBramante, whose work has already become known, and invited him to Milan.
Church of Santa Maria presso San Satiro
This is Bramante's first completely independent building. It was built back in the 11th century, but the master completely redesigned and rebuilt the building, creating a project for a completely new building together with the famous Giovanni Amadeo.
The church was built in the traditions of the early Florentine Renaissance, but new trends are already being felt, as well as Donato Bramante's love for ancient architecture.
The interior decoration of the church, especially Sanskrit (places in the altar where priests' robes and utensils are stored), also belongs to Bramante. The manner of the artist specializing in interior painting is clearly visible here. The lack of space did not allow making full-fledged choirs in the church, and the architect created the illusion of a large space by means of painting and painted the choirs on one of the walls.
Already in the design of his first architectural work, Donato proved to be an excellent designer.
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Art historians refer to it as one of the most beautiful buildings of the Italian Renaissance. Initially, the church was built in accordance with the canons of the Gothic, but Bramante made significant changes to its architecture, such as a triple apse and a portico with columns in the Corinthian style. Such unexpected additions for a Gothic building made this church a completely unique architectural structure.
Working on itthe project manifested the commonwe alth of the two greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci painted a medallion depicting the Madonna over the entrance to the church. And as a sign of gratitude to the noble patron, next to the Virgin Mary, he placed the figures of Lodovico Sforza and his wife.
Roman period of creativity
In September 1499, French troops captured Milan, and Bramante left for Rome, where Pope Julius II appointed him to the post of chief architect of the Vatican.
Under the leadership of Donato Bramante, the arcades of several churches are being built, he creates a huge Belvedere courtyard, decorates the Cancelleria Palace, participates in the construction of the court palace and in the design of St. Peter's Basilica. But the pinnacle of his work is not these colossal structures, but a miniature chapel.
Tempietto in San Pietro in Montorio
This small round rotunda, erected where the apostle Peter was crucified, is considered one of the best creations that Italian architects created during the Renaissance.
Tempietto is very harmonious and, one might say, ideal in terms of architectural form. Unfortunately, due to the cramped courtyard of the Dominican monastery, it is difficult to photograph the chapel from the right angle, so not a single photo captures its beauty.
The interior design of the rotunda was also made according to Bramante's project. And here his talent as both an architect and a painter was fully manifested.
Donato Bramante died on April 11, 1514 in Rome, before he could complete the most ambitious work of his life - the project of the basilicaSaint Peter. The role of this outstanding artist in the development of Renaissance architecture is no less significant than the contribution of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael to painting and Michelangelo to sculpture.
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