architectural form
What type of plan did Brunelleschi use for the Pazzi Chapel? (what shape?)
A central plan, meaning the building’s layout is organized around a symmetrical center, a perfect square capped by a dome, reflecting Renaissance ideals of balance and harmony
What was the Pazzi Chapel used for?
A meeting and prayer room for Franciscan monks at Santa Croce.
In what city is the Pazzi Chapel located?Florence, Italy.
Florence, Italy.
What does the perfect geometry of the Pazzi Chapel stand for?
Order, harmony, and God’s perfect design.
Which district of Shanghai is home to the famous contemporary art zone known as M50, located at 50 Moganshan Road?
The Putuo District, M50 is a cluster of former factory warehouses turned into art galleries and studios for Shanghai’s contemporary artists.
What type of vault (roof) covers the main space of the Pazzi Chapel?
A dome supported by curved triangles called pendentives.
Who paid for the Pazzi Chapel to be built?
The Pazzi family, to show their faith and importance in Florence.
During what period of art was the Pazzi Chapel built?
The Early Renaissance, when artists looked back to ancient Rome and Greece.
What do the repeating patterns in the Alhambra symbolize?
Infinity and the eternal nature of Allah.
What is the name of the museum in Shanghai that preserves and displays propaganda posters from the Maoist era and the Cultural Revolution?
→ Answer: The Propaganda Poster Art Centre, now relocated to a larger space in the city, showcasing historical political art from 1949–1979.
What material did Brunelleschi use for the gray lines that outline the white walls?
Pietra serena, a gray stone that makes the building’s geometry stand out.
used to emphasize clean lines and geometric clarity against smooth white plaster.
What was the Alhambra mainly built for?
It was a royal palace and fortress for Muslim rulers in Spain.
2 part - In what continent is the Alhambra found? What art era was it inspired by?
Europe - Roman
What does water symbolize in the Alhambra’s courtyards and fountains?
Purity, life, and paradise.
What major international art fair takes place every autumn on the west bank of the Huangpu River?
→ Answer: West Bund Art & Design, one of Asia’s most important annual contemporary art fairs, featuring global galleries and installations.
→ Answer: West Bund Art & Design, one of Asia’s most important annual contemporary art fairs, featuring global galleries and installations.
What intricate feature decorates the ceilings of the Alhambra’s Hall of the Two Sisters? (sala de los Mocarabes chamber)
Muqarnas, honeycomb-shaped carvings that sparkle in the light.
contain thousands of small niches that catch and scatter light = symbolizing the infinite nature of creation
What did the gardens and pools in the Alhambra represent?
The idea of paradise- a peaceful, heavenly place full of water and light.
Who built the Alhambra?
The Nasrid dynasty, the last Muslim rulers of Spain.
What feature in the Pazzi Chapel draws the eyes upward toward heaven?
The central dome and oculus that let light shine from above.
There’s a large bronze sculpture of a bull on the Bund waterfront that looks similar to New York’s Charging Bull. Who made it, and what does the bull symbolize in Chinese culture?
→ Answer: It was created by Arturo Di Modica, the same artist who made the Wall Street bull. In China, the bull symbolizes strength, prosperity, and steady growth.
What element of design unites both structures, even though their purposes differ?
Careful geometry and symmetry that make them feel balanced and peaceful.
also repeated forms -squares, circles, star patterns -
all of which express heavenly order and balance
How does each building show power in a different way?
The Pazzi Chapel shows the power of religion/faith; the Alhambra shows royal wealth and the authority of god
What happened to Muslim rule in Spain after the Alhambra was finished?
It ended with the Christian Reconquista in 1492 (a nearly 800-year process by which Christian kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula retook territory from Muslim rulers )
How is light used differently in each building?
The Pazzi Chapel uses light to show structure; the Alhambra uses light to create mystery and beauty.
The popular art and shopping area called Tianzifang was once an old residential neighborhood. What kind of traditional Shanghai housing style is preserved there?
The shíkùmén (石库门) style, a mix of Western row houses and Chinese courtyard homes, famous for their narrow lanes and brick gates.