A recent trip to Florence rekindled my interest in studying architecture, especially a visit to the Michelangelo's Laurentian Library, in San Lorenzo. When we arrived on our first day, we were told that the Library was not open to the public, except during days when there is a public event, and luckily one was planned in just a couple days (looking at the schedule, we realized that events were spaced out by months, so we were rather lucky).
One is struck by the invention - the almost modern expression of the classical language:
One is struck by the invention - the almost modern expression of the classical language:
- the broken pediment over the main entrance at the top of the stairs
- the clean, honest presentation of the stone, plaster, and wood
- the dynamic, elliptically shaped, cascading stairway
- the monumental classical columns, inset in the wall, floating on scroll brackets
- the inverted window pilasters, thicker at the top than the bottom
The over-scaled composition, with its syncopated rhythms - like a blast of jazz in and age of symphonies.
