Which of the following statements about the new style of architecture

Which of the following statements about the new style of architecture of Rome in the 15th century is / are correct ?

It was marked by a complete break from the past
It was actually a revival of the imperial Roman style
The Architects familiar with classical style were employed by wealthy merchants and aristocrats

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

2 and 3

2 only

3 only

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2016

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The correct answer is B. Statements 2 and 3 accurately describe aspects of the new style of architecture in Rome during the 15th century Renaissance, while statement 1 does not.

– Statement 1: “It was marked by a complete break from the past”. Incorrect. Renaissance architecture was characterized by a deliberate *revival* and adaptation of classical Roman architectural principles and forms, drawing heavily from the ruins and texts of antiquity. It was a break from the Gothic style that preceded it, but not a complete break from *all* past, as it specifically looked to the ancient Roman past for inspiration.
– Statement 2: “It was actually a revival of the imperial Roman style”. Correct. Renaissance architects (like Alberti, Bramante) studied ancient Roman buildings and texts like Vitruvius’s *De Architectura*. They sought to reintroduce classical elements such as columns (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian orders), pediments, arches, domes, and principles of symmetry, proportion, and harmony based on classical models.
– Statement 3: “The Architects familiar with classical style were employed by wealthy merchants and aristocrats”. Correct. The Renaissance was heavily fueled by patronage. Wealthy families, princes, and the Papacy were the major patrons of architecture, commissioning palaces, churches, and public buildings. They sought out architects who could realize their ambitions in the prestigious new classical style, which was seen as a symbol of learning, status, and connection to the glorious past.

The 15th century saw the rise of Renaissance architecture in Italy, starting in Florence and spreading to Rome. Key figures included Brunelleschi (though more active in early 15th-century Florence), Alberti (theorist and architect), and later in Rome, Bramante, who significantly shaped the style of the High Renaissance. This period saw the construction of influential buildings that defined the classical tradition for centuries.

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