CHAPTER VI

PALACE ARCHITECTURE OF THE FLORENTINE RENAISSANCE

The neo-classic ideas most extensively carried out in palatial houses--Domestic architecture of the Middle Ages in Italy--The Palazzo Riccardi--Its mediæval features--Its general form--Its court arcades--General character of the interior--Vasari’s remarks on the Riccardi--The Palazzo Pitti--The Strozzino--The Strozzi--The Pazzi--The Quaratesi--The Guardagni and its reasonable character--The Rucellai--Introduction of orders in the façade of the Rucellai--The architect Alberti--His archæological and literary tastes--Alberti’s initiative in the use of the orders not immediately followed--Further neo-classic innovations introduced by Baccio d’Agnolo--Milizia’s remarks on these innovations--Increase in the spirit of display in domestic architecture--Decline of Florentine ascendency by the beginning of the sixteenth century--Artistic activities transferred to Rome--Erection of sumptuous palatial houses in Rome 102