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
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