Donato Bramante was born near Urbino, Italy, around 1444 and died in 1514 CE. at the age of 70 years. He was born of the name Donato di Pascuccio. Donato was brought up in a family of farmers. Bramante was then sent to study painting in the year 1420 to 1492 CE, and it is believed that he used to study at Piero Della Francesca's workshop in Urbino (Mark, 2020). From 1480 CE. Bramante was living and working in Milan. While in Milan, he spent most of his time in the Ludovico Sforza's Court. Donato's architectural works first appeared in the historical records in 1485 CE., which was high under the influence of Leonardo da Vinci from 1452 to 1519 CE., who had shifted to Ludovico's court in the course of 1482 (Mark, 2020).
While still in Milan, Donato built several structures. For instance, he designed and built a Santa Maria Delle Grazie tribune from 1492 to 1499 (Jack, 2014). His other works entail Cloisters of Sant'Ambrogio, which was in 1497-98, and others in Legnano and Pavia (Jack, 2014). Nevertheless, during the year 1499, Milan was invaded by the French army, which led Donato, together with his patron Sforza, to Rome and specifically to cardinal Riario, who was so powerful in Rome by the time Donato was relocating (Mark, 2020). While in Rome, he worked for Pope Alexander VI from 1492-1503. Donato was the designer of several significant Rome constructions, such as the Piazza Sana Maria and Saint Peter's square.
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In 1502, Donato was commissioned to design and construct a chapel by King Ferdinand and his wife, Queen Isabella of Spain (Mark, 2020). The chapel was known as Tempietto and was established in Montorio in Rome. This construction was purposed to mark the place where Saint Peter was believed to have been crucified, though it is a different location from where Saint Peter is believed to be buried (Mark, 2020). Tempietto is an Italian word that means a small temple construction; the temple designed in a circular shape is one of the most pleasant constructions of the renaissance. The unique architectural design led Donato to pioneer in architectural works.
The Tempietto design was motivated by a specific type of classical temple, the Vesta temple located at Tivoli. It was also established on a circular plan, and its surroundings are columned (Jack, 2014). Donato's plan included a dome since it had an altar. He also chose the Doric order of decoration for the structure (Jack, 2014). Tempietto has been one of the icons in architecture recognized for its symmetry and difficult proportions. The Tempietto significantly resembles the Brunelleschi's style, which comprises of the well propositioned, the Tuscan columns, a dome, and the Doris entablature, which was used in the olden Marcellus Theater (Jack, 2014). Donato is well known for the introduction of the high renaissance architectural style.
The techniques and processes that Tempietto introduced were effective and useful even in learning architectural designs. The painting techniques that he knew and practiced, and applied in most of his works have contributed a lot to the architectural field. On establishing the Tempietto, several processes had to be followed. They include clearing the area, which entailed removing the parts that had decayed since Constantine's construction (Mark, 2020). Then the project began, which involved sequences of platonic solids. The cylinders are placed upon a sequence of flat cylinders constituting the steps of the structure. The establishment of the structure was focused vertically and within the small courtyard hence emphasizing a central point.
References
Mark, C. (2020). Donato Bramante. Ancient History. 8-12. https://www.ancient.edu
Jack, F. (2014). Bramante's Tempietto, the Roman Renaissance and the Spanish Crown. 14-19. https://www.cambridge.org
