Estipite

Last updated
Estipite in the Basilica of la Vera Cruz in Caravaca de la Cruz, Region of Murcia, Spain. Caravaca de la Cruz castle column.JPG
Estipite in the Basilica of la Vera Cruz in Caravaca de la Cruz, Region of Murcia, Spain.
Estitipes on the facade of the Parroquia Antigua in Salamanca, State of Guanajuato, Mexico. Parroquia Antigua (Salamanca) 001.jpg
Estitipes on the facade of the Parroquia Antigua in Salamanca, State of Guanajuato, Mexico.

The estipite column is a type of pilaster typical of the Churrigueresque Baroque style of Spain and Spanish America used in the 18th century. [1] In the late Baroque period, many classical architectural elements lost their simple shapes and became increasingly complex, offering variety of forms and exuberant decoration. [2] Therefore, the column has the shape of an inverted cone or obelisk. The shaft is always wider in its middle part than the base and capital. [3] [4] The column combines features of both late Baroque and Mannerist. [5] It was widely used between 1720 and 1780. [6]

Contents

Characteristics

Form

The shape of the estipite has a narrow base and the shaft is in the shape of an inverted obelisk. [7] This is a variation to previous uses of the pilaster which deviates from classical architecture with its form. In classical architecture, pilasters give the impression that they have a load bearing function. However, due to the obelisk shape of the estipite, this tradition is disrupted. [8] The estipite is not supposed to look solid, instead be dynamic and create movement. Creating an apparent lightness to the structure. [6]

Manuel Toussaint defines estipites as:

“A supporting member, square or rectangular in section, and formed of multiple elements: pyramids and truncated prisms, parallelepipeds, superimposed foliage, medallions, garlands, bouquets, festoons. The ornament is all vegetable, applied to geometric forms”. [6]

Estipite on main portal of Portada Templo de Nuestra Senora del Rosario Portada Templo de Nuestra Senora del Rosario.jpg
Estipite on main portal of Portada Templo de Nuestra Señora del Rosario

Capitals

The capitals usually highlight the line of a broken cornice and are unabridged. Or may be connected to another estipite by a horizontal entablature. [9] The capital for esiplite pilasters are typically Corinthian. [7] There are deviations to this. For example, decorations of vegetation and cherub heads take the place of the Corinthian capital in Capilla del Sagrario for the Cathedral of Segovia by Jeronimo de Balbas. [6]

Estipites from Templo de San Francisco Acatepec Estipites del Templo de San Francisco Acatepec 1.jpg
Estípites from Templo de San Francisco Acatepec

Double Columns

Similar to Baroque styling with the use of double columns, the double estipites is a feature in some Churrigueresque buildings. [9]

Alongside other styles

Estipies were utilized between Ultra-Baroque and the rise of Neo-Classical styles. Therefore, even though estipites are distinct in style, they are sometimes used alongside Solomonic and classical columns. A good example of this is San Francisco Acatepec in Puebla. [7]

History

Origin

In Richard W. Amero's thesis, The California Building: A Case Of The Misunderstood Baroque, he claims that Michelangelo is the first one to use an estipite pilaster in the Laurentian Library (1526). [9] Meanwhile, John F Moffitt states in his thesis El Sagrario Metropolitano, Wendel Dietterlin, and The Estipite that Juan de Arfe y Villafane could have been the first known person to mention the estipite. This is seen in Arfe's, Description de la traza de la custodia de la Iglesia de Sevilla (1587). [8] Therefore, the origins of the estipite are debated among scholars.

Spain and New Spain

The architect known for making estipites popular is Jose Benito de Churriguera, who has the Churrigueresque style named after him. His first works with estipites were Capilla del Sagrario for the Segovia Cathedral (1690) and Convento de San Esteban, Salamanca (1693). Jeronimo de Balbas was a Spanish architect who moved to Mexico (New Spain) in 1717, and introduced the new world to estipites. His work Retablo de los Reyes in the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (1718–37)  was the first building to showcase estipites in the New World. The era of estipites only lasted till 1783 with the establishment of Academia de San Carlos, an architecture school in New Spain. However, in this short period of time 1736, the completion of Retablo de los Reyes, till 1783, many buildings in New Spain (Mexico) had facades or alters with estipites. [6] Due to the decline in popularity for the estipite pilasters, Solomonic and Classical columns were revived throughout Spain and New Spain. This led to many estipite-style monuments to be destroyed or replaced with classical columns in the last decades of the 1800s. [10]

Estipites from Retablo de los Reyes in Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico Retablo de los Reyes en la Catedral metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico 02.jpg
Estipites from Retablo de los Reyes in Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral in México

Buildings

Small list of buildings that estipites are a design feature for.

NameArchitectLocationDate of FeatureFeature
Mission San Xavier del Bac Ignacio Gaona Tucson, Arizona 1783-97 Retable
Segovia Cathedral José Benito de Churriguera Segovia, Spain 1690 Capilla del sagrario
Convento de San Esteban, Salamanca José Benito de Churriguera Salamanca, Spain 1693 Reredos
Serville Sagrario()Jeronimo de Balbas () Seville, Spain 1712High Altar
Iglesia de San Juan ()Jeronimo de Balbas () Marchena, Spain 1714choir stalls
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral Jeronimo de Balbas () Mexico City, Mexico 1718-37Retablo de los Reyes ()

Altar of Forgiveness

La Santísima Church Lorenzo Rodriguez Mexico City, Mexico 1755-83Main Portal (architecture)
California Building (California Quadrangle) San Diego, California
Temple of San Francisco Javier()Ildefonso de Iniesta Bejarano and Duran() Tepotzotlán, Mexico Main Portal (architecture)
church of la Cata Guanajuato, Mexico Main Portal (architecture)
la castrense (The Chapel of Our Lady of Light) Santa Fe, New Mexico 1761 Reredos of Our Lady of Light
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco Taxco, Mexico 1751-58Main Portal (architecture)
Church of San Francisco Acatepec San Francisco Acatepec, Mexico Main Portal (architecture)
Royal Collegiate Church of Saint Hippolytus Córdoba, Spain 1736Main Portal (architecture)
Sagrario of the Cathedral of Granada Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo Granada, Spain designed in 1707Retablo de Santiago()
Laurentian Library  ? Michelangelo Florence, Italy Designed in 1526Walls of vestibule

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaissance architecture</span> Type of architecture

Renaissance architecture is the European architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 16th centuries in different regions, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance architecture followed Gothic architecture and was succeeded by Baroque architecture. Developed first in Florence, with Filippo Brunelleschi as one of its innovators, the Renaissance style quickly spread to other Italian cities. The style was carried to Spain, France, Germany, England, Russia and other parts of Europe at different dates and with varying degrees of impact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tlaxcala (city)</span> Municipality in Tlaxcala, Mexico

Tlaxcala, officially Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala and seat of the municipality of the same name. The city did not exist during the pre-Hispanic period but was laid out by the Spanish as a center of evangelization and governance after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The city was designated as a diocese but eventually lost that status to Puebla as its population declined. The city still has many of its old colonial structures, including the former Franciscan monastery, and newer civic structures like the Xicohtencatl Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baroque architecture</span> 16th–18th-century European architectural style

Baroque architecture is a highly decorative and theatrical style which appeared in Italy in the early 17th century and gradually spread across Europe. It was originally introduced by the Catholic Church, particularly by the Jesuits, as a means to combat the Reformation and the Protestant church with a new architecture that inspired surprise and awe. It reached its peak in the High Baroque (1625–1675), when it was used in churches and palaces in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Bavaria and Austria. In the Late Baroque period (1675–1750), it reached as far as Russia, the Ottoman Empire and the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in Latin America. In about 1730, an even more elaborately decorative variant called Rococo appeared and flourished in Central Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morelia Cathedral</span> Church in Morelia, Mexico

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Morelia is a religious site that is the seat of the Archdiocese of Morelia of the Catholic church in Mexico. It is located as its name itself says in the city of Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The cathedral is located in the first square of the city, forming the trace of the Historic Center of Morelia. The building was built in the 18th century at the time of the viceroyalty, it is Baroque in style and is made of pink stone that gives it a peculiar and characteristic color. An important family group headed by Sebastián de Guedea collaborated in its construction for a long period; They were Andrés, Pedro, Diego, Miguel, Anastacio, Lorenzo and Joseph, all with the surname Guedea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomonic column</span> Spiraling type of column

The Solomonic column, also called Barley-sugar column, is a helical column, characterized by a spiraling twisting shaft like a corkscrew. It is not associated with a specific classical order, although most examples have Corinthian or Composite capitals. But it may be crowned with any design, for example, making a Roman Doric solomonic or Ionic solomonic column.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Churrigueresque</span> Baroque architecture style in Spain

Churrigueresque, also but less commonly "Ultra Baroque", refers to a Spanish Baroque style of elaborate sculptural architectural ornament which emerged as a manner of stucco decoration in Spain in the late 17th century and was used up to about 1750, marked by extreme, expressive and florid decorative detailing, normally found above the entrance on the main facade of a building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral</span> Church in Mexico City, Mexico

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It is situated on top of the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo) in the historic center of Mexico City. The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813 around the original church that was constructed soon after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlan, eventually replacing it entirely. Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega planned the construction, drawing inspiration from Gothic cathedrals in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puebla Cathedral</span> Roman Catholic cathedral of Puebla, Mexico

The Basilica Cathedral of Puebla, as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is known according to its Marian invocation, is the episcopal see of the Archdiocese of Puebla de los Ángeles (Mexico). It is one of the most important buildings in the historic center of Puebla declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has the prerogative of being the first sumptuous temple that under good designs was made in the Americas, consecrated in 1649, ahead of the Metropolitan of Mexico that was dedicated in 1653. It was founded by Philip II of Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish Baroque architecture</span> Architecture of the Baroque era in Spain and its former colonies

Spanish Baroque is a strand of Baroque architecture that evolved in Spain, its provinces, and former colonies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granada Charterhouse</span>

Granada Charterhouse is a Carthusian monastery in Granada, Spain. It is one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish architecture</span> Architecture of buildings in Spain

Spanish architecture refers to architecture in any area of what is now Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings which were constructed within the current borders of Spain prior to its existence as a nation, when the land was called Iberia, Hispania, or was divided between several Christian and Muslim kingdoms. Spanish architecture demonstrates great historical and geographical diversity, depending on the historical period. It developed along similar lines as other architectural styles around the Mediterranean and from Central and Northern Europe, although some Spanish constructions are unique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Mexico</span> Overview of the architecture in Mexico

Many of Mexico's older architectural structures, including entire sections of Pre-Hispanic and colonial cities, have been designated World Heritage Sites for their historical and artistic significance. The country has the largest number of sites declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Santísima Church</span> Church in Mexico City, Mexico

La Santísima Church is located 12 La Santísima Street at corner of Emiliano Zapata Street in the historic center of Mexico City. Its full name is Church and Hospital of the Most Holy Trinity. The church was built between 1755 and 1783 as a temple for the adjoining hospital/hospice for priests. The hospital functioned until 1859, when the Reform Laws nationalized much of Church's property in Mexico. The church still retains its original function but the adjoining hospital and office sites have since moved into private hands with only parts of the original structures still intact and preserved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Enseñanza Church</span>

La Enseñanza Church (1772-1778) is located on 104 Donceles Street in the historic center of Mexico City. The Mexican Churrigueresque style of this church, especially that of its altarpieces, is upheld as the pinnacle of the Baroque period in Mexico, as this style soon gave way to the Neoclassic shortly after this church was built. The church’s official name is Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar. The former convent was called El Convento de la Enseñanza La Antigua, from which is derived the church’s popular name. After the Reform War, the convent was disbanded. The complex has had various uses, but the church has been returned to its sacred function.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Pedro Cholula</span> Municipality in Puebla, Mexico

San Pedro Cholula is a municipality in the Mexican state of Puebla and one of two municipalities which made up the city of Cholula. The city has been divided into two sections since the pre Hispanic era, when revolting Toltec-Chichimecas pushed the formerly dominant Olmec-Xicallanca to the eastern side of the city in the 13th century. The new lords called themselves Cholutecas and built a new temple to Quetzalcoatl on the San Pedro side, which eventually eclipsed the formerly prominent Great Pyramid of Cholula, now on the San Andrés side. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the city of Cholula was an important religious and economic center, but the center of power was on the San Pedro side, centered on what is now the main city plaza and the San Gabriel monastery. The division of the city persisted and San Pedro remained the more dominant, with Spanish families moving onto that side and the rest of the population quickly becoming mestizo. Today, San Pedro is still more commercial and less residential than neighboring San Andrés with most of its population employed in industry, commerce and services rather than agriculture. Although Cholula's main tourist attraction, the Pyramid, is in San Andrés, San Pedro has more tourism infrastructure such as hotels, restaurants and bars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Veracruz Monastery, Mexico City</span> Church in Mexico City, Mexico

The Santa Veracruz Monastery in the historic center of Mexico City is one of the oldest religious establishments in Mexico City and was the third most important church in the area in the 16th century. It was established by a religious brotherhood founded by Hernán Cortés.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regina Coeli Convent Church</span> Church building in Mexico City, Mexico

Regina Coeli Convent Church is a Roman Catholic parish church and former convent built in the historic center of Mexico City, on the corner of Regina and Bolivar Streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco</span> Church in Taxco, Mexico

The Parroquia de Santa Prisca y San Sebastían, commonly known as the Church of Santa Prisca, is a colonial monument located in the city of Taxco de Alarcón, in the southern state of Guerrero, Mexico, built between 1751 and 1759. It is located on the east side of the main plaza of Taxco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peruvian colonial architecture</span>

The Peruvian colonial architecture, developed in the Viceroyalty of Peru between the 16th and 19th centuries, was characterized by the importation and adaptation of European architectural styles to the Peruvian reality, yielding an original architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of San Francisco Acatepec</span> Roman Catholic church in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico

Church of San Francisco Acatepec is a colonial religious building, characteristic of the Mexican Baroque architecture, especially recognized for its facade of Talavera mosaics combined with red brick. It is located in the town of San Francisco Acatepec in San Andrés Cholula, Metropolitan area of Puebla, in the state of Puebla, Mexico, and it was one of the first churches founded in the region.

References

  1. "ESTÍPITE". Mexican Architecture. mexicanarchitecture.org. Retrieved 2 August 2016.[ vague ]
  2. "Jerónimo de Balbás". Encyclopædia Britannica . Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  3. Palmer, Gabrielle G.; Pierce, Donna (1992). Cambios: The Spirit of Transformation in Spanish Colonial Art. Santa Barbara Museum of Art in collaboration with the University of New Mexico Press. p. 81. ISBN   978-0-8263-1408-6 . Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  4. "Spanish Architecture in the Baroque Period". Boundless Art History. boundless.com. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016. Spanish Baroque is a strand of Baroque architecture that evolved in Spain and its provinces and former colonies, in the late 17th century.
  5. Baird, Jr., Joseph Armstrong (1962). The Churches of Mexico, 1530-1810. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. p. 38. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Goss, Robert Carl (1969). The principal retable of the church of San Xavier del Bac (Thesis). hdl: 10150/566292 .
  7. 1 2 3 Kornegay, Paula B. (1996). "The Altar Screens of an Anonymous Artist in Northern New Spain: The Laguna Santero". Journal of the Southwest. 38 (1): 63–79. JSTOR   40169967.
  8. 1 2 Moffitt, John F. (1984). "El Sagrario Metropolitano, Wendel Dietterlin, and the estipite: observations on Mannerism and Neoplateresque architectural style in 18th-Century Mexican ecclesiastical facades" [El Sagrario Metropolitano, Wendel Dietterlin, and the estipite: observations on Mannerism and Neoplateresque architectural style in 18th-Century Mexican ecclesiastical facades]. Boletín del Seminario de Estudios de Arte y Arqueología (in Spanish) (50): 325–348. hdl: 10324/12859 .
  9. 1 2 3 agustink (2020-05-19). "The California Building: A Case Of The Misunderstood Baroque And The History Of The San Diego Museum/ Museum Of Man by Richard W. Amero [PDF]". Presentica. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  10. Kornegay, Paula B. (1996). "The Altar Screens of an Anonymous Artist in Northern New Spain: The Laguna Santero". Journal of the Southwest. 38 (1): 63–79. JSTOR   40169967.