Brunelleschi's dome

Description

The superb story of the architect Filippo Brunelleschi and the design and construction of the Great Cathedral in Florence - one of the most magnificent achievements of the Italian Renaissance.Even in an age of soaring skyscrapers and cavernous sports stadiums, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, with its immense, terracotta-tiled cupola, still retains a rare power to astonish. Yet the elegance of the building belies the tremendous labour, technical ingenuity and bitter personal strife involved in its creation. For over a century after work on the cathedral began in 1296, the proposed dome was regarded as all but impossible to build because of its enormous size. The greatest architectural puzzle of its age, when finally completed in 1436 the dome was hailed as one of the great wonders of the world. To this day, it remains the highest and widest masonry dome ever built. This book tells the extraordinary story of how the cupola was raised, from its conception to its consecration. Also told is the story of the dome's architect, the brilliant and volatile Filippo Brunelleschi. Denounced as a madman at the start of his labours, he was celebrated at their end as a great genius. His life was one of ambition, ingenuity, rivalry and intrigue - a human drama set against the plagues, wars, political feuds and intellectual ferments of Renaissance Florence, the glorious era for which the dome remains the most compelling symbol.

First Sentence

ON AUGUST 19, 1418, competition was announced in Florence, where the city's magnificent new cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, had been under construction for more than a century: Whoever desires to make any model or design for the vaulting of the main Dome of the Cathedral under construction by the Opera del Duomo-for armature, scaffold or other thing, or any lifting device pertaining to the construction and perfection of said cupola or vault-shall do so before the end of the month of September.

Excerpt

On the nineteenth of August 1418 a competition was announced in Florence, where the city's magnificent new cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, had been under construction for more than a century: Whoever desires to make any model or design for the vaulting of the main Dome of the Cathedral under construction by the Opera del Duomo -- for armature, scaffold or other thing, or any lifting device pertaining to the construction and perfection of said cuploa or vault -- shall do so before the end of the month of September. If the model be used he shall be entitled to a payment of 200 gold Florins.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Brunelleschi's dome: how a Renaissance genius reinvented architecturePenguin Books2001-01-01
• Brunelleschi's domeChatto & Windus2000-01-01
• Brunelleschi's domeWalker & Co.2000-01-01
• Brunelleschi's DomeHardcoverRB Large Print2000-01-01
• Brunelleschi's DomeAudio CDBooks on Tape2001-01-01
• Brunelleschi's domePimlico2001-01-01