6/7/2016
Bramante, et.al., Saint Peter's Basilica | Bramante | High Renaissance: Florence and Rome | Renaissance & Reformation in Europe | Khan Academy
Bramante, et.al., Saint Peter's Basilica
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H.W. Brewer, drawing of Old St. Peter's Basilica as it appeared between
1475 and 1483, 1891 Pope Julius II commissioned Bramante to build a new
basilica—this involved demolishing the Old St Peter's
Basilica that had been erected by Constantine in the 4th
century. This ancient church was in disrepair. But tearing
it down was a bold manouever that gives us a sense of
the enormous ambition of Pope Julius II, both for the
papacy as well as for himself.
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Numerous architects (see below), Saint Peter's Basilica, begun 1506
completed 1626 (Vatican City), photo: Steven Zucker (CC BY-NC-SA
2.0)
Burial site of St. Peter
The site is a very holy one—it is (according to the
Church) the site of the burial of St. Peter. Bramante did
the first plan for the new church. He proposed an
enormous centrally planned church in the shape of a
Greek cross enclosed within a square with an enormous
dome over the center, and smaller domes and halfdomes radiating out. When Bramante died, Raphael took
over as chief architect for St. Peter's, and when Raphael
died, Michelangelo took over. Both Michelangelo and
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Bramante, et.al., Saint Peter's Basilica | Bramante | High Renaissance: Florence and Rome | Renaissance & Reformation in Europe | Khan Academy
Raphael made substantial changes to Bramante's
original plan. Nevertheless, the experience of being
inside St. Peter's is awe-inspiring.
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Top left: Bramante, plan for St. Peter's Basilica, 1506;
top right: Raphael, plan for St. Peter's Basilica, 1513;
bottom: Michelangelo, plan for St. Peter's Basilica, 1547;
Basilica and central plan
The two basic types of Church are the basilica and the
central plan. The basilica, with its long axis that focuses
attention on the altar, has been the most popular type of
church plan because of its practicality.
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Numerous architects (see below), Nave, Saint Peter's Basilica, begun
1506 completed 1626 (Vatican City)
The other popular type of church plan is a central plan
that is usually based either on the shape of a circle, or on
a Greek cross (a cross with equal arms). These are
called central plans because the measurements are all
equidistant from a center. This type of Church, influenced
by Classical architecture (think of the Pantheon), was
very popular among High Renaissance architects.
Besides the influence of ancient Roman architecture, the
circle had spiritual associations. The circle, which has no
beginning and no end, symbolized the perfection and
eternal nature of God. For some thinkers in antiquity and
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Bramante, et.al., Saint Peter's Basilica | Bramante | High Renaissance: Florence and Rome | Renaissance & Reformation in Europe | Khan Academy
the Renaissance the universe itself was constructed in
the form of concentric circles with the sun, moon and
stars moving in circular orbits around the earth.
Bramante's original design was for a central plan,
however—as built—the church combines elements of a
central plan with the longer nave of a basilica.
Architectural contributors to St. Peter's
Basilica include:
Donato Bramante whose design won Julius II's
competition
Antonio da Sangallo, a student of Bramante, who
designed the Pauline Chapel
Fra Giocondo strengthened the foundation
Raphael worked with Fra Giocondo, whose redesigned
building plan was not executed
Michelangelo designed the dome, crossing, and exterior
excluding the nave and facade
Giacomo della Porta, designed the cupola
Carlo Maderno, extended Michelangelo's plan adding a
nave and grand facade
Gian Lorenzo Bernini added the piazza, the Cathedra
Petri, and the Baldacchino
Essay by Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker
Additional resources
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Designing St. Peter's from Columbia University
Vatican tour of the necropolis believed to contain the
tomb of Saint Peter - Please note: to reach the interactive
tour of the necropolis, proceed beyond the introduction
and the brief lecture offered by Cardinal Comastri
St. Peter's Basilica at Sacred Destinations
Google Satellite image
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