Maina Emanuel Mwangi. B02/34766/2013

 Born February 18, 1404, Genoa, Italy.  He was an Italian author, artist, architect, poet, Catholic priest, linguist, philosopher, cryptographer and general Renaissance humanist polymath.  He was a theorist and thus is best known for his writings other than his building.  He wrote “De re aedificatoria”. On the art of building.  Died: April 20, 1472, Rome, Italy

 His works include:  S. Francesco, Tempio Malatestiano, Rimini (1447, 1453–60)  Façade of Palazzo Rucellai (1446–51)  Completion of the facade of Santa Maria Novella, Florence (1448–70).  San Sebastiano, Mantua (begun 1458)  Sepolcro Rucellai in San Pancrazio (1467)  Tribune for Santissima Annunziata, Florence (1470, completed with alterations, 1477).  Sant'Andrea, Mantua (begun 1471)

 Italian for temple of Malatesta.  Considered Alberti’s best architectural piece.  Building was completed in  It was originally a 13 th century gothic church.  Malatesta, a prince, asked Alberti to make him and his wife a mausoleum.  It wasn’t completed due to lack of funds. Interior

 Palazzo Rucellai is a landmark Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy, whose façade was designed by the renowned humanist and architect Leon Battista Alberti and erected between 1446 and

 Rucellai sephulcture.  Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai commissioned Leon Battista Alberti to build him a tomb in the family chapel in the church.  Inside are tombs of Giovanni and his family.  1467

 Before Alberti the façade was bare but he came up with a solution using a rigid Gothic structure.  It was influenced by the then recently rediscovered geometric and mathematical studies applied to nature and art.

 Built according to Alberti’s designs, it is an Early Renaissance church.  Begun in 1460 it was left partially completed in the mid 1470s as Alberti was no longer in charge of its construction.  The façade is precisely as wide as its height from the entrance level to the apex of the pediment; it may be fitted with the perfect geometry of the square.

 In 1252 a painting of the annunciation was begun by a monk but he couldn’t finish because he didn’t think it was good enough.  In his sleep an angel finished it.  It was highly venerated.  In 1444 The Gonzaga family financed a tribune and Alberti was commissioned to build it.

 the church was begun in 1462 according to designs by Leon Battista Alberti.  The building, however, was finished only 328 years later.  Though later changes and expansions altered Alberti's design, the church is still considered to be one of Alberti's most complete works.  It is in the shape of a cross.

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