Space: Palazzo Rucellai
Introduction to the Palazzo Rucellai:
From 1446 to 1451, the Palazzo Rucellai was built for the prominent Rucellai family (Zapella). This structure was designed and overseen by the famous architect Alberti amid the Italian Renassaince. While never finished, this Palazzo was one of many being designed at the time. The palazzo form saw a tremendous surge in popularity following the construction of one for the Medici family, arguably the most influential family of the time (Zapella).
What makes the Palazzo Rucellai unique:
The Palazzo Rucellai was commissioned in response to the Palazzo Medici. Thus, to accurately understand this structure, one must allow it to be in conversation with the Medici home. This is particularly true since the Rucellai’s used their Palazzo as a way to show loyalty to the Medici (Zapella). Subsequently, when analyzing the Palazzo Rucellai, one must analyze the components of design that reflect the Medici family. This includes direct allusions to the Palazzo Medici, namely the implementation of three distinct levels with detail and delicacy increasing as one moves up (Zapella). This is illustrated by the increasing complexity in the columns as one moves up which can be seen in the provided image. Secondly, one must consider the entablature between the 1st and 2nd floor. Here there is a more explicit allusion to the Medici. The facade of this entablature is decorated with the image of a silver ring with three feathers inside, one of the symbols for the Medici family (Zapella). An image of this symbol has been provided below for reference.
However, while the references to the Medici are vital to understanding this building, the differences between the two structures are also highly informative. The Palazzo Rucellai is unique in its implementation of entablatures between levels and the unprecedented emphasis on ancient Rome (Zapella). Finally, while the Palazzo is technically a private residence, it was also a business place and a community pillar. This contextualization necessities that understanding how the physical structure interacted with the general population is also vital. Notably, this relationship is physically represented by the benches built into the structure’s ground floor and the Loggia [a smaller courtyard-like structure] that accompanies the Palazzo (Zapella). The benches, for example, can be seen in this image of the building.
What the Palazzo Rucellai achieves:
When constructing the Palazzo Rucellai, the Rucellai family made explicit and subtle allusions to the Medici family. This connection was established for two primary reasons. Firstly, the Medici family profoundly influenced Italy at the time. Thereby, there were strong political advantages to being in the Medici’s favor. Secondly, around the time of the Palazzo Rucellai’s construction, there was a wedding between the Medici and Rucellai family (Zapella). This event led to, in addition to the Palazzo, the building of a Loggia that showed both the Medici and Ruchellai family symbols within the same artistic freeze. Thus, the Rucellai family had plenty of motivation to honor the Medici family. One should also note that they referenced the Medici family directly and indirectly for two reasons. The indirect references allude to the family and its influence on the art world at the time. Additionally, the direct references to the Medici family emphasized the concept that the Medici family were something to be admired.
In addition to developing relations with the Medici, the Palazzo Rucellai was also a way for the Rucellai to showcase their own wealth and power. Subsequently, the Rucellai family ensured their Palazzo was unique from the Palazzo Medici. They did this by working with the famous architect Alberti. Alberti, who was highly educated in math and classical Latin, is considered one of the first humanist architectures (Kelly-Gadol and Zapella). This passion led Alberti to develop a great appreciation of the order and reason of Ancient Roman architecture (Kelly-Gadol). Resultingly, when Alberti designed the Palazzo Rucellai, he separated his building from others through a stronger emphasis on Rome. Particularly, the columns used reflect the three-column layers of the Colosseum (Zapella). He also implemented the roman importance of more delicate, symmetric, and proportional masonry. These design elements are particularly distinguishable when compared to the Palazzo Medici, which implements more medieval and rough masonry (Zapella). Furthermore, these heavy allusions to the Ancient Roman also give the Palazzo Rucellai a sense of historical significance. It also meant that the building was more aligned with the rebirth mindset of the rest of the Renaissance.
The consequence of the Palazzo Rucellai’s heavy alignment with renaissance ideals is that it allows the building to be seen more as a community landmark of the time. As the Renaissance gained popularity, everyday citizens developed a deeper desire and appreciation for seeing renaissance values in the world around them (Zapella). This meant that buildings such as Palazzo Rucellai were seen as positive ways to improve the city skyline. Similarly, since elements like benches and the Leggio were designed for public use, the building also offered physical services to the public. This gave the building both physical and aesthetic benefits for the non-elites in Florence. Moreover, this more charitable component of the Palazzo also allowed the Rucellai to improve their persona as gracious patrons of the city. Hollsitically, the analysis of these three competing goals within the Palazzo Rucellai illustrates how the Rucellai used the Palazzo as a multi-faceted PR event. The construction and design of this building allowed them to strengthen their relations with other influential families, ensure the public perception of them remained positive, and inflate their sense of self. They utilized the space of their family home in such a way that it benefited the family beyond simply being a place of gathering. Instead, the Rucellai turned their home into a strong political statement and symbol of power.
How the Palazzo Rucellai compares to the modern world:
In many ways, the Palazzo Rucellai interacts with today’s world the same way it did at the point of construction. The buildings’ notoriety and history draws in various tourists. Specifically, tourists who romanticized the Renaissance just as Alberti favored Ancient Rome. Secondly, the building’s impact on public life has also remained strong. From the original architecture, like the benches, to the economic benefits of tourism, the presence of the Palazzo Rucellai continues to help the general public. However, how this architecture interacts with the public creates a unique perspective of modern architecture. For example, in current architecture, public benches are often designed so skateboarders cannot use the structures. This intentional, hostile architecture is very different from the benches of the Palazzo, which were simply made to be available. An image of such hostile architecture is provided here and compared with an image of the palazzo benches in use. Consequently, this creates an interesting conversation about whether or not public architecture should be designed to dictate which part of the public uses it. In particular, it raises questions about how public a space is if the public does not dictate how they use it.
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Works Cited
- Kelly-Gadol, Joan. “Contribution to Philosophy, Science, and the Arts of Leon Battista Alberti.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leon-Battista-Alberti/Contribution-to-philosophy-science-and-the-arts.
- Zappella, Christine. “Leon Battista Alberti, Palazzo Rucellai.” Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/alberti-palazzo-rucellai/.