Introduction

Religious Building around the world

Historical Background

Structure & Layout

Types of Ornaments used

Type of materials used

Where ? Why ?

Historical background of

St. Peter’s Basilica

The Baroque Period

History of the Western arts that roughly coinciding in the 17th century.

Occurs after the Renaissance Period.

One of the most famous building from Baroque Period is St. Peter’s Basilica.

Background of St. Peter’s Basilica

Located in Vatican City, Italy.

Known as the second St. Peter’s Basilica.

It is believed that the location of Saint Peter’s tomb is located directly below

the altar of the Basilica.

The construction began in the 1500’s.

18th April 1506, Julius II laid the first stone of the new Basilica.

Construction took about 120 years.

Completed on 18th November 1626.

Vatican City, Italy

Saint Peter’s tomb

Function of St. Peter’s Basilica

Famous as a place of pilgrimage and for its liturgical functions.

It was built as a funerary church, to house the tomb of Saint Peter and the

tombs of Christians.

Most functions were commemorative rites for those who were buried there.

4 main architects that contributed to the

St. Peter’s Basilica

Donato BramanteMichelangelo

Carlo MadernoGian Lorenzo Bernini

<< Drawing by Michelangelo

detailing the reconstruction of St.

Peter's basilica, originally built by

Constantine in 323 A.D.

Michelangelo used Brunelleschi's

dome as a starting point. The inner

shell is more hemispherical while the

outer is vertical.

Like Brunelleschi's it is held together

with a lantern topper.

>>>

Structure and layout of

the building

Structure of St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s was designed according to clear and rigorous constructive

principles.

Total area of 44000 square meter and 219 meter of the basilica itself.

The facade is about the size of a soccer field with a width of 114 meters and

a height of 46 meters, being one of the most beautiful churches ever built.

Dominant feature is the bilateral symmetry.

Both in the Basilica and in Square and Colonnade.

Circular form.

With Dome and the two branches of the Colonnade.

The image presented

here shows how the

various parties have

been named, through the

use of SketchUp layers,

which allows us to gain

greater control at design

time on the various

aspects of the model,

characterizing the

portions of the model and

allowing us to control

them separately without

losing the sight of the

whole.

Floor plan of St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica floor plan is cruciform in shape, with an elongated shape

of the Latin cross.

It has a parabolic dome with a double column lantern.

Diagram is showing floor plan

with cruciform shape, interlocking

spaces, and centralized

organizations respectively.

Types of ornamentation

used

Dome

Michelangelo is the designer and his design intention is dynamic organisms metaphors

of the human body.

It is directly above Bernini’s Baldachino supported by four gigantic piers.

It is divided into 16 segments divided by ribs, with a window at the base of each

segment.

The mosaics and patterns were designed by Giuseppi Cesari.

It is possible to climb up to the top of dome of St Peter’s to enjoy the fantastic city

panorama all around Rome.

St. Peter’s Bernini Baldachino

A large Baroque sculpted bronze canopy, technically called a ciborium or baldachin.

It stands under Michelangelo’s Dome and acts as a visual centerpiece to the nave.

It was built to mark in a monumental way and Saint Peter’s tomb is underneath it.

Chapel of the Pieta The Pieta is a world-famous work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo

Buonarroti.

It balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism.

Lots of chemical restoration methods and experiments were done.

Located at the right of the entrance and is now protected by a bulletproof acrylic

glass panel.

Statues

13 symbolic statues which are the founder saints.

Represent Christ the Redeemer, St. John the Baptist and 11 Apostles.

Doors

Holy door

i. Represents Jesus and is

normally sealed.

ii. Opened during Holy Year

(Jubilee) every 25 years.

iii. Eight sacraments and

preaching on the panel.

Door of Death

i. Bronze door sculpted by Giacomo Manzu.

ii. Acts as an exit for funeral processions.

iii. Ten panels which represent death.

Door of Good and Evil

i. Made of bronze and was

designed by the artist

Luciano Minguzzi.

ii. Theme of the ancient

conflict between good and

evil.

Types of materials used

Travertine

Main material of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Is a sedimentary rock.

Is a very durable material, and high quality.

Has the appearance of a fibrous or concretic material, and is tan, white, or cream-

colored.

Marble

Is a non-foliated metamorphic rock.

Common colours are white and milk-white.

The interior of the Basilica is decorated with many marble sculptures.

One of the most famous marble sculptures within the Basilica is Michelangelo’s Piet.

Conclusion

One of the largest and holiest churches in the world.

Used enormous amount of time, money, and resources.

Shows a strategic use of material, construction techniques, engineering principles

and restoration.

Video Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5UK0dEFSoM

References

http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/monumenti/basilica-di-s-

pietro.html

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-st-peters-basilica

https://engineeringrome.wikispaces.com/The+Engineering+Behind+Saint+Peter%27s+

Basilica

http://www.rometoolkit.com/whattodo/vatican_stpeters.htm

http://www.italian-architecture.info/ROME/RO-025.htm

http://www.digital-

images.net/Gallery/Scenic/Rome/Churches/StPeters_Int/stpeters_int.html

http://vatican.com/articles/info/the_holy_door_st_peter%E2%80%99s_basilica-a1111

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