Giotto’s biography is mostly based on controversy. He is said either to be born on hilltop farmhouse, either at Romignano or Colle di Romagnano in around 1266. He was a son to a man known as Bondone. It is also said that Giotto might have died at the age of 70 years. Giotto grew up as a shepherd and an intelligent child liked by whoever knew him. As a shepherd, he used to draw pictures of sheep on the rock and this was how he was discovered by one of the greatest painters in that period. This marked the start of his journey as a painter.
Giotto is an artist in the renaissance period and his contribution is highly recognized. He introduced byzantine style of art and this improved a great art of painting. He also introduced a technique of accurate drawing which had been ignored for so many years (chapter 17, 280). One of his greatest works is Scrovegni Chapel decoration in Padua. It describes the life of Christ. It is one of the great master pieces of the early renaissance. Giotto is one of the most important artists in the renaissance period and he is actually known as the father of renaissance (chapter 17, 280). This is because, he is known as the first artist to paint realistic figures and his representations were expanded upon by other successive artists. I chose this particular artist because his story is so inspiring for instance he was just discovered while drawing images of the sheep on a rock but later on he became a famous artist who introduced many new styles of art and many contributions in the Italian renaissance period of art.
Paxton’s crystal palace was one of the largest structures built in the early eighteenth century in the United Kingdom. The structure was built for the purpose of having the greatest individuals and technological advancements displayed in the building. Paxton palace was even named after the designer of the building whose name was Joseph Paxton. It lies on more than ninety thousand meters square of land and which had a length of five hundred and sixty-four meters (564 m) long and a height of about thirty-nine meters (39 m). It was a time when the industrial revolution was at its peak and so the materials that were used in constructing the building were of high value and one of the best in the ancient times (Gardner and Fred, pg51).
Cast plate glass was the method applied in its construction allowing the manufacture of large and strong glass which surrounded the whole building and in more stunning, the interior design astonished every individual who attended the great exhibition globally. After the exhibition had been completed, the strong tower building was decided to be relocated to another region that had more attractive sites such as the great villas which were in the south London area at the peak which was close to the Sydenham hill (Pile, pg243). Unfortunately, in the year 1936, Paxton Palace was brought down by fire but left a great landmark such as a football club by the name Crystal Palace was born and currently the proposal of reviving the building by the Chinese is underway.
Soufflot Pantheon in Paris, France, is one of the greatest sites of attraction since it has an irresistible view and also one of the most lovable buildings of what is known as the neoclassic period and built in the year 1758 to the late 1790’s. The building was mainly brought up for church services by the name Ste-Genevieve and was to be a monument to the Paris citizens and also to the French nation as a whole (Gardner and Fred, pg636). Soufflot Pantheon building is named after the architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, who was however criticized by his colleagues for going against the tradition and also the construction necessities. Soufflot was however glorified even before the construction activities were over as the best building ever in the country (Palmer, pg210).
Currently, the building is still the finest of all since it opened in the late eighteenth century although many changes have occurred in making the building stronger and stand for many more years on its own. The main purpose of its construction was to replace a medieval abbey as proposed by the then king. Politically the building was constructed to fulfill the promise made to the mistress through a vow by King Louis XV’s to rebuild the church. Soufflot designed the building in such a way that it brought unity between the Greek architecture and the Gothic construction method. The building had classical forms which include a tall Corinthian column and also the dome constructed using a relatively light type of stone (Hahn, pg211).
Comparing the Paxton crystal palace to the Soufflot pantheon palace, the two buildings from a planning point of view retain a cross-shaped design. The outside design of Soufflot pantheon and the Paxton’s crystal palace are open to the general public in a way that shows a welcoming view for all kinds of people. They both possess a similar semi-circular entrance design that is mostly used by the Arabs in constructing every entrance to a great community or outdoor building (Gardner and Fred, pg86). The hallway of both buildings is full of attractive wall images and curving that attract the general public into the building. These designs are mostly applied to appeal to the general public and mostly the users in order to have a positive thinking to whatever is happening inside that place. For example, the Paxton’s crystal palace has the design in order to appeal to the general world of how great it is to be in such as place. This was during the exhibition period where different people came to display all that they had developed therefore known as the industrial revolution.
Soufflot pantheon building has a similar design for appealing and welcoming the general public and also the Catholics to have a chance to serve their purpose in the hall (Palmer, pg211). Both buildings were constructed to serve the better good of all individuals from fulfilling promises to generating a lasting relationship among its users. Both the Paxton’s crystal palace and the Soufflot pantheon were constructed by individuals who had the power and skills to construct outstanding buildings in the respective countries. The materials used were unique and all possessed a strong texture making its stand strong on the ground for many more years to come. The design was much more attractive since they received praises from even their respective countries leaders.
Paxton's Crystal Palace and Soufflot Pantheon also had much indifference in that the Paxton’s palace was constructed mainly for the purpose of exhibition shows as industrial revolution had an impact on the lives of many. Soufflot pantheon was constructed to serve the citizens and mostly the Catholics in Paris and also a monument for all in the France nation and outside. The interior design of the Paxton’s crystal palace was much larger in size mainly to accommodate the large number of people who were expected to attend the exhibition compared to the Soufflot pantheon building which is smaller in size and this can mainly be since it was to house a number of people as it is in a church (Gardner and Fred, pg557). Both buildings had a span of years difference in construction since the Paxton’s crystal palace only took four years to construct whereas the Soufflot pantheon building took at least thirty-four years to complete its construction activities. Also, the location of both buildings is much different in terms of country and also the geographical location.
Paxton’s crystal palace was constructed in areas that are remote for it to accommodate the as large number of people as possible whereas the Soufflot pantheon building was constructed in an area that seems much like the city centers of Paris, therefore, the limited mass that it can support (Palmer, pg210). Materials used in the construction of both buildings are much different. Paxton’s crystal palace was constructed using a cast iron and also new plate glass which one of its kind technology. The structural design resembles that of a greenhouse different from the Soufflot pantheon building which has a dome-shaped design and has triangular piers crossings (Hahn, pg211).
Facing the streets is a wider space such as a field size forward space for the Paxton’s crystal palace whereas the Soufflot pantheon building has a lesser front space which can barely accommodate a large number of people (Gardner and Fred, pg636). Since the Soufflot pantheon building is constructed in areas much accessible by the public, it developed multiple motives from both the political interest to the church concerns. Paxton’s crystal palace was constructed purely for the purpose of exhibition.
Works cited
Palmer, Allison L. Historical Dictionary of Neoclassical Art and Architecture. Lanham [Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2011. Internet resource.
Pile, John. A History of Interior Design. London: Laurence King Publishing, 2005. Print.
Hahn, Alexander. Mathematical Excursions to the World's Great Buildings. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012. Internet resource.
Gardner, Helen, and Fred S. Kleiner. Gardner's Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective. , 2014. Print.
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