October 5, 2011 — University of Virginia Art Museum director Bruce Boucher will lead a Saturday Special Tour of the museum's exhibition, "Variety, Archeology, and Ornament: Renaissance Architectural Prints From Column to Cornice," on Oct. 22, from 2 to 3 p.m.
Boucher will discuss the role of ornament and architectural prints in the development of the concept of the five orders of architecture (Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and composite) in the early 16th century. During the Renaissance, architects sifted through the wreckage of the ancient world to understand classical architecture. In particular, they fastened upon the variety of capitals and bases of columns as a means of imposing rules and coherence – oftentimes more than Roman architects had done in the first place. The new medium of engravings and woodcuts chronicle this search for perfection that led to the influential treatises of Palladio and Vignola.
Boucher is an expert on the 16th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio, whose work has had profound influence on the architecture of the Western world. Thomas Jefferson studied Palladio's work in preparation for his design of U.Va.'s Academical Village.
Boucher is the author of numerous books, among them "Andrea Palladio: The Architect in His Time," and he lectures widely on Palladio as well as Italian artists such as Donatello, Tintoretto and others, with a focus on the artists working in the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Boucher's career as an architectural historian, educator and museum curator spans more than 35 years. Before coming to U.Va., Boucher taught art history at University College London for 24 years, and was the curator of European sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago for seven years.
The U.Va. Art Museum offers its Saturday Special Tours on the third or fourth Saturday of every month. These tours offer the opportunity to join faculty, curators and scholars as they explore a variety of focused topics related to museum collections and exhibitions.
Saturday Special Tours are free and open to the public. For information, call 434-243-2050 or e-mail museumoutreach@virginia.edu. The museum is located at 155 Rugby Road, one block from the Rotunda.
Boucher will discuss the role of ornament and architectural prints in the development of the concept of the five orders of architecture (Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and composite) in the early 16th century. During the Renaissance, architects sifted through the wreckage of the ancient world to understand classical architecture. In particular, they fastened upon the variety of capitals and bases of columns as a means of imposing rules and coherence – oftentimes more than Roman architects had done in the first place. The new medium of engravings and woodcuts chronicle this search for perfection that led to the influential treatises of Palladio and Vignola.
Boucher is an expert on the 16th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio, whose work has had profound influence on the architecture of the Western world. Thomas Jefferson studied Palladio's work in preparation for his design of U.Va.'s Academical Village.
Boucher is the author of numerous books, among them "Andrea Palladio: The Architect in His Time," and he lectures widely on Palladio as well as Italian artists such as Donatello, Tintoretto and others, with a focus on the artists working in the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Boucher's career as an architectural historian, educator and museum curator spans more than 35 years. Before coming to U.Va., Boucher taught art history at University College London for 24 years, and was the curator of European sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago for seven years.
The U.Va. Art Museum offers its Saturday Special Tours on the third or fourth Saturday of every month. These tours offer the opportunity to join faculty, curators and scholars as they explore a variety of focused topics related to museum collections and exhibitions.
Saturday Special Tours are free and open to the public. For information, call 434-243-2050 or e-mail museumoutreach@virginia.edu. The museum is located at 155 Rugby Road, one block from the Rotunda.
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October 5, 2011
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