Donato di Pascuccio d'Antonio (1444-1514), better known as Donato Bramante, belongs to the great masters of the Renaissance. Born under the bright sun and blue sky of Italy, from childhood familiar with the best monuments of antiquity, they created not just great works of art, but a whole historical era.
The beginning of creativity
Donato, who grew up in a peasant family in the duchy of Urbino, first studied painting and achieved success in fashionable wall paintings at the time, creating the illusion of additional space. But already in childhood, according to his biographer Giorgio Vasari, he was fond of geometry and did mathematical calculations for the construction of buildings.
Despite the fame of Donato Bramante, his biography is far from complete. Information about the early years of the architect’s work is very scarce, it is only known that he traveled a lot, performing minor orders in Urbino, Bergamo, Mantua, Florence and other cities in Italy. The main result of these wanderings was experience and knowledge, which were formed not only in the process of work, but also under the influence of meetings with outstanding masters of that time.
In the circle of the great
The work of Bramante was influenced by famous architects, painters and sculptors of Italy: Filippo Brunelleschi, Ercole de Roberti, Andrea Mantegna and others. Of great importance to Donato was the meeting with Leonardo da Vinci, with whom he closely communicated. But it happened later, when Bramante already became a recognized master. Together with Leonardo, he worked on the architectural problems of the design of the lantern - a special superstructure on the dome of the buildings, which not only performed a decorative function, but also served as lighting and ventilation.
Painting
The first period of the artist’s work was associated with painting, even though Bramante already made sketches and sketches of ancient ruins and draws sketches and drawings of buildings.
The only surviving painting of the master is "Christ at the Column" - painting on wood at the Ciaravalle Abbey, near Milan. The artist managed to create a very realistic and tragic image that has a strong emotional impact on the viewer. The painting itself demonstrates the artistic technique inherent in Donato Bramante - the creation of the illusion of a vast space.
The interior design has always attracted Donato more than story painting, and his technique of depicting architectural space has influenced the work of Italian artists such as Ambrogio Bergognone, Bernardo Zenale and others.
But the fascination with architecture turned out to be stronger, and in the 80s the master completely devoted himself to this area. Cardinal Ascanio Sforza drew attention to Donato Bramante, whose work had already become known, and invited him to Milan.
Church of Santa Maria Presso San Satiro
This is the first completely independent building of Bramante. It was built back in the XI century, but the master completely redesigned and rebuilt the building, creating a project for a completely new construction together with the famous Giovanni Amadeo.
The church was built in the traditions of the early Florentine Renaissance, however, new trends are already felt, as well as the love of Donato Bramante to ancient architecture.
The interior design of the church, especially Sanskrit (the place on the altar where priests and utensils are kept), also belongs to Bramante. The manner of an artist specializing in interior painting is clearly visible here. The lack of space did not allow full-fledged choirs to be made in the church, and the architect using painting tools created the illusion of a large space and painted the choirs on one of the walls.
Already in the design of his first architectural work, Donato showed himself to be an excellent designer.
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Art historians attribute it to the most beautiful buildings of the Italian Renaissance. Initially, the church was built in accordance with the canons of Gothic, but Bramante made significant changes in its architecture, for example, a triple apse and a portico with columns in the Corinthian style. Such additions, unexpected for a Gothic building, made this church a completely unique architectural structure.
In the work on this project, a community of two of the greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance manifested itself. Leonardo da Vinci painted a medallion depicting the Madonna above the entrance to the church. And in gratitude to the noble patron next to the Virgin Mary placed the figures of Lodovico Sforza and his wife.
Roman period of creation
In September 1499, French troops captured Milan and Bramante went to Rome, where Pope Julius II appointed him to the post of chief architect of the Vatican.
Under the leadership of Donato Bramante, arcades of several churches are being built, he creates a huge Belvedere courtyard, decorates the Palace of Cancellaria, participates in the construction of the court palace and in the design of St. Peter's Basilica. But the peak of his work is not these colossal structures, but a miniature chapel.
Tempietto in San Pietro in Montorio
This small round rotunda, erected where the Apostle Peter was crucified, is considered one of the best creations that Italian architects created in the Renaissance.
Tempietto is very harmonious and, one might say, ideal in terms of architectural form. Unfortunately, due to the cramped courtyard of the Dominican monastery, it is difficult to photograph the chapel from the right angle, so not a single photo conveys its beauty.
The interior design of the rotunda was also done according to the project of Bramante. And here his talent of both an architect and a painter was fully manifested.
Donato Bramante died on April 11, 1514 in Rome, never having time to complete the most ambitious work of his life - the project of St. Peter's Basilica. The role of this outstanding artist in the development of Renaissance architecture is no less significant than the contribution of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael to painting and Michelangelo to sculpture.