Bramante’s ‘Palazzo della Cancelleria’

Question 1

Q: What is the Palazzo della Cancelleria, and for whom was it initially built?

Answer 1

A: The Palazzo della Cancelleria, or Palace of the Chancellery, was initially built as a cardinalitial palace for Cardinal Raffaele Riario, nephew of Pope Sixtus IV and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church.

Question 2

Q: What notable event funded the construction of the Palazzo della Cancelleria?

Answer 2

A: Cardinal Riario won a huge sum of money in a single night of gambling against a French cardinal and the son of Pope Innocent VIII, using this “honest fortune” to fund the palace’s construction around 1490.

Question 3

Q: How did the Renaissance popes influence palace construction in Rome?

Answer 3

A: Renaissance popes initiated a new order of dwelling designed to impress through magnificence. Sixtus IV’s laws encouraged expansion by allowing acquisition of neighbors’ houses and permitted clerics to pass palaces to heirs.

Question 4

Q: What were the two significant laws passed by Sixtus IV that influenced the Palazzo della Cancelleria?

Answer 4

A:

Allowed acquisition of neighboring houses for palace expansion.

Legalized clerics passing palaces to heirs, even if built with church funds.

Question 5

Q: What motivated Cardinal Riario to build the Palazzo della Cancelleria?

Answer 5

A: Cardinal Riario was driven by a passion for architecture, colossal ego, enormous ambition, and possibly hopes of papal election, inspired by his relative Sixtus IV.

Question 6

Q: Who is traditionally attributed as the architect of the Palazzo della Cancelleria, and why is its exact attribution unclear?

Answer 6

A: The building is traditionally attributed to Bramante and Andrea Bregno. However, the Sack of Rome in 1527 destroyed pertinent documents, making exact attribution impossible.

Question 7

Q: Where is the Palazzo della Cancelleria located?

Answer 7

A: It is situated between Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Campo de’ Fiori, in the center of Rome.

Question 8

Q: How does the Palazzo della Cancelleria’s style symbolize Rome’s Renaissance prominence?

Answer 8

A: It is regarded as the earliest Renaissance palace in Rome, representing Rome’s displacement of Florence as the world’s art capital.

Question 9

Q: What are the key features of the Palazzo della Cancelleria’s façade?

Answer 9

A:

72m long travertine façade with drafted masonry.

Double pilasters and rustication emphasize structure.

Piano nobile features richer carving, arched windows, and heraldic symbols.

Incorporates classical orders and Florentine elements, comparable to Alberti’s Palazzo Rucellai.

Question 10

Q: How does the Palazzo della Cancelleria reflect the influence of Humanism?

Answer 10

A: The use of classical orders, proportional relationships, and revival of Roman travertine masonry showcases Renaissance ideals of harmony and revival of antiquity.

Question 11

Q: What makes the Palazzo della Cancelleria’s courtyard significant?

Answer 11

A: It is the first pure Renaissance cortile in Rome, with harmonious proportions and porticoes supported by spolia columns from the ancient Theatre of Pompey.

Question 12

What is notable about the Palazzo della Cancelleria’s interior layout?

Answer 12

A: The piano nobile housed the cardinal’s family and court, with a sequence of rooms inspired by the Vatican Palace, including a chapel, private apartments, and gardens.

Question 13

Q: What materials were reused in constructing the Palazzo della Cancelleria?

Answer 13

A: The travertine façade used stone from the Theatre of Pompey, while 44 Egyptian granite columns in the courtyard came from the porticoes of the theatre’s upper seating.

Question 14

How did advancements in materials and techniques contribute to the Palazzo della Cancelleria?

Answer 14

A: The extensive use of spolia and drafted travertine reflects both economic resourcefulness and mastery of ancient Roman construction techniques.

Question 15

Q: How does the Palazzo della Cancelleria symbolize Riario’s status and ambition?

Answer 15

A: The lavish façade, classical orders, heraldic symbols, and monumental scale assert Riario’s claims to rank, privilege, and architectural patronage.

Question 16

Q: What happened to the Palazzo della Cancelleria in 1517?

Answer 16

A: It was seized by Pope Leo X, a Medici pope, as retribution for Pope Sixtus IV’s complacency during the Pazzi Conspiracy against the Medici.

Question 17

Q: Which earlier Renaissance architect influenced the Palazzo della Cancelleria?

Answer 17

A: Leon Battista Alberti, particularly his Palazzo Rucellai, influenced the use of classical orders and Florentine design in the façade.

Question 18

Front: How did Humanism influence the design and purpose of the Palazzo della Cancelleria?
Back:

Answer 18

Humanism emphasized reviving the classical past, which shaped the Palazzo della Cancelleria’s Renaissance architectural style.

The classical orders and symmetrical proportionality used in the design reflected a renewed interest in ancient Roman architecture.

Use of spolia (travertine from the Theatre of Pompey) symbolized a physical connection to the grandeur of antiquity, aligning with Humanist values of continuity with the Roman Empire.

The cortile design drew inspiration from Roman atria and cloisters, combining classical form with functionality, creating a noble space for intellectual and political gatherings.

Question 19

Front: How did papal patronage and politics influence the Cancelleria

Answer 19

The Renaissance popes, including Sixtus IV and Alexander VI, emphasized architectural grandeur as a reflection of the Church’s power, inspiring a competitive culture among high-ranking clerics like Riario.

After completion, the palace was seized by Leo X, reflecting the shifting allegiances and rivalries in papal politics.

Papal policies encouraging palace construction for cardinals, such as allowing clerics to inherit church-financed properties, were pivotal in stimulating projects like the Cancelleria.

Question 20

Front: How did Riario’s choice of architect and materials reflect his patronage priorities?

Answer 20

Back:

Attribution to Bramante, one of the leading architects of the Renaissance, reflects Riario’s desire to align with elite artistic circles.
The use of travertine and Egyptian granite columns sourced from the Theatre of Pompey illustrated his ability to mobilize both financial and physical resources, enhancing his prestige.

Question 21

Front: How is patronage explicitly shown in the design and decoration of the Palazzo della Cancelleria?

Answer 21

Coat of Arms: Cardinal Raffaele Riario’s coat of arms is prominently displayed on the façade and windows, reinforcing his identity as the patron.

Monumental Scale: The vast size of the palace signifies Riario’s wealth and ambition, illustrating the Renaissance concept of patronage as a public display of status.

Classical Features: The adoption of classical orders, symmetry, and spolia (travertine and granite) demonstrates the patron’s alignment with Humanist ideals, showcasing his intellectual sophistication.

Cortile Design: The grand courtyard, suitable for gatherings, reflects the patron’s desire to host events that solidified his influence and legacy within elite circles.

Connection to Antiquity: By sourcing materials like columns from the Theatre of Pompey, Riario physically linked his building to Rome’s imperial past, enhancing his prestige as a patron who celebrated the city’s classical heritage.