The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Theory Of Decoration

5. What is the most famous example of East Indian Mohammedan architecture?
0. Give a brief description of a Roman house.
7. Describe briefly a typical Gothic domestic interior, including its arrangement, decoration, and furniture treatment.
8. What are some of the details of ornament used in Greek wall decoration?
9. What European styles have been influenced by Chinese art?
10. What are some of the colors and details used in Chinese domestic interiors?
11. What are some of the suhjects found on the Malls of l'ompciian houses?
12. To what country was Gothic art native? What are its principal characteristics ?

Italian and Spanish Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance

Owing to several circumstances and local conditions, the great Gothic style of France and England never fully penetrated into Italy. The Italians were slow to accept the art and culture of the northern races. This was due in part to the warm climate of the south, but primarily to the fact that the Italians never fully lost contact with the ruins of the Human civilization that surrounded them in all forms.

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries a political and social party known as the "Humanists" developed, whose prime object was to protest against the authority of the church in matters of secular importance. The art of printing had been discovered, and the literary works of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio commenced to have considerable influence upon the thoughts of the people. These three authors had searched the original manuscripts of the classic philosophers and had contrasted the ideals of the early Roman Empire with the modern popular beliefs, particularly those of the church, into which certain abuses and inconsistencies had crept.

The revival of interest given in this manner to classic culture was the most important contributing cause to the downfall of the Gothic arts in Italy. The sight of the ruined masterpieces of the Roman Empire that stood at every cross-road, called to the attention of the inhabitants the greatness that once was theirs.

In addition to this, several discoveries in science had been made which contradicted the statements of the Roman church and had shaken the faith of the people in the established order. The compass had been invented, navigators had been able to travel to greater distances, and new lands had been discovered.