ESSAY #4c Compare and Contrast- The Domes of Heaven

COMPARE & CONTRAST – The Domes of Heaven

INSTRUCTIONS: Find and post the images of the artwork(s) mentioned in the Topic Essay Question.

QUESTION: Describe the technology of dome building in chronological order of the Roman Pantheon, the Hagia Sophia and Brunelleschi’s dome on the church of Santa Maria de la Fiore. How did the time period, geographic location and available technology affect these masterpieces of architecture? Describe what other factors they all have in common.

PART ONE

SUMMARY: The Domes of Heaven are magnificent.  I could leave it at that; however there is more that can be said.  It is impressive the time, effort, and skill that was put into constructing each of the domes.  They can't be considered just a dome overhead; they are a work of art, a creation, a gift to those that are fortunate enough to enjoy them.  They are all massive works of art.

REASON:  The reason behind this question is to see the differences between techniques used to construct the domes.  What might have been a factor in why and how they were built.  To see the beauty in architecture.

PURPOSE:  I chose this question because I found it interesting.  The images caught my attention.  I have always had an interest in architecture.

DIRECTION: I set out to find out what I could about each of the domes.  I followed the path the information set me on.

IMPRESSIONS: The domes are very impressive and awe inspiring.   I want to go visit the three mentioned and others that I found in my search.  I would love to go and measure the Pantheon and see what the exact dimensions are.

PART TWO 

Each dome is unique in its own way.  They have a different style and have used different materials.  The type of construction is different between the different domes.  They do have similarities. Each one is recognized for their own distinct features.  Although they may have a similar theme, they are all fascinating in their own way. 

The Pantheon is one of the simplest and most impressive domes. "The Pantheon is a circular temple, 142 feet 6 inches in diameter.  It's internal height is exactly the same, and the dome is semi-circular. In other words, a sphere 142 feet 6 inches in diameter would fit exactly inside the Pantheon.  It was dedicated to the deities of the seven planets.  Its spherical form is symbolic of the cosmos.  The great 'eye' in the dome, 27 feet across, is the only source of light, and was symbolic of the sun; the bronze stars originally set in each coffer were the stars of heaven.  Externally the dome was once covered with golden tiles so that seen from the surrounding hills it again symbolized the sun"  (A Concise History of Western Architecture, R. Furneaux Jordan, 1983 Thames and Hudson Limited London, pages 56, 57)  

 I have found there is a discrepancy on the size of the dome.  The huge bowl shaped dome is 143 feet in diameter and 143 feet from the floor to the summit and the oculus is 29 feet wide in diameter.  (Art History, Marilyn Stokstad/Michael W. Cothren, Fourth Edition/volumn 1, 2011 Pearson Education, Inc., page 197)  One text tells us the sphere is 142 feet and 6 inches with the 'eye' diameter of 27 feet.  The other text tells us the sphere is 143 feet with the oculus diameter of 29 feet. 

Pantheon

(http://survivalttp.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pantheon.jpg)

"The disk of light moves around this microcosm throughout the day like a sum.  Clouds can be seen traveling across the opening on some days; on others, rain falls through and then drains off through conduits planned by the original engineer." (Art History text, pages 197, 198)

Under a marble veneer and two tiers of architectural detail work are 18 to 20 foot thick walls of brick and concrete.  (Art History text, page 199)  This is the third reconstruction of the Parthenon.  The final replacement was 118 - 128 CE and the literal translation of Pantheon is 'all the Gods'.  (Art History text, page 196) 

"Let architects sing of aesthetics that bring / Rich clients in hordes to their knees; / Just give me a home, in a great circle dome / Where stresses and strains are at ease." (Buckminster Fuller)

"Hagia Sophia is a vast rectangle, 250 feet by 220 feet, with an inner and outer narthex, and formerly an atrium or forecourt.  The main body  of the church has surrounding aisles, 50 feet wide, vaulted and galleried.  These aisles are separated from the central area by very beautiful colonnaded screens - each column a single marble shaft.  The aisles reduced the central liturgical area to 250 feet by 107 feet.  The dome is 107 feet in diameter, but the space it covers is extended to east and west by large semi-domes." (Western Architecture text, pages 79, 80)

The Hagia Sophia was burned down in 532 during a revolt.  To restore order Justian led the imperial forces into battle.  (Art History text, page 234)  The building is a hybrid of longitudinal and central architectural planning.  (Art History text, page 234)  

Hagia Sophia

(http://survivalttp.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/pantheon.jpg)

“Interior view of the magnificent dome of Hagia Sophia, which rises 184 feet (56m, about 15 stories) in height. Its diameter is approximately 102 feet (31m), just slightly smaller than that of the Pantheon in Rome. Like most Byzantine churches, the dome originally featured a central medallion of Christ Pantocrator. This was added in the second half of the 9th century, after the Iconoclastic controversy was resolved in favor of images. Some scholars maintain that it was a full-length image of Christ seated on the arc of heaven, rather than a bust portrayal of the Pantocrator. The mosaic was destroyed in the severe earthquake of 1346 and was replaced with a similar representation after 1355. It had not yet been plastered over in the 16th century, when travellers attest to its existence. During the extensive cleaning and restoration works carried out by the Fossati brothers in the 19th century, the dome mosaic disappeared. It may well lie hidden beneath the current decoration. The center dome now displays a calligraphic medallion quoting the Light Verse (Qur'an 24:35), inscribed by Mustafa Izzet Efendi during the Fossati restoration.”

(http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia-photos/slides/dome-c-helen-betts)

 

"Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself." Samuel Butler (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/samuelbutl149778.html)

 Santa Maria de la Fiore was built earlier without the dome.  Brunelleschi was brought in to build and erect the dome.  He had devised a way to support and center the dome.

Brunelleschi built the dome using chains for support.  Brunelleschi was a goldsmith by training and versatile in many crafts.  (Western Architecture text, pages 169,170)
 The dome was Gothic in style although Brunelleschi used his knowledge of Roman brickwork.

Santa Maria

(http://0.tqn.com/d/goitaly/1/0/P/F/-/-/florence-dome.jpg)

"Architecture is an art when one consciously or unconsciously creates aesthetic emotion in the atmosphere and when this environment produces well being." (Luis Barragan)

The Pantheon was created with bricks and concrete.  The walls of the dome were roughly 20 feet thick.  The Pantheon was a round room with a round dome constructed above.  The dome of Hagia Sophia was built over a rectangle style room.  The main dome is seated on a square.  The dome is supported by four pendatives and four arches. The Byzantium style created large spaces below with curved surfaced above.  The Santa Maria had the support of the iron chains from the dome's drum.  This method was used due to the lack of pre-stressed concrete.  They are all similar in the fact that it gives a grand expanse of space.  Materials made a difference on construction.  Concrete wasn't available for the Santa Maria and there was a lack of timber for support, and so Brunelleschi devised the method of support with chains.  The Hagia Sophia is the only one that derives its support from the four corners. There are colors, textures, and different materials used.  One thing that is visible through the photographs available; there is natural light.  They are all beautiful.  

We always come back to art and religion.  There is obviously art in creating the dome and there is art on the dome.  Below the dome was a place of worship.  Granted they weren't always a place a worship as Christians have centered their beliefs.  The mastery in the artwork is awe inspiring.