Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
by Ross King
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On August 19, 1418, a competition concerning Florence's magnificent new cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore was announced: "Whoever desires to make any model or design for the vaulting of the main D shall do so before the end of the month of September." The proposed dome was regarded far and wide as all but impossible to build. The dome would literally need to be erected over thin air. Of the many plans submitted, one stood out. It was offered not by a master mason or carpenter, but by a show more goldsmith and clockmaker named Filippo Brunelleschi, who would dedicate the next twenty-eight years to solving the puzzles of the dome's construction. In the process, he did nothing less than reinvent the field of architecture. Brunelleschi's Dome is the story of how a Renaissance genius bent men, materials, and the very forces of nature to build an architectural wonder we continue to marvel at today. Denounced at first as a madman, Brunelleschi was celebrated at the end as a genius. He engineered the perfect placement of brick and stone, built ingenious hoists and cranes to carry an estimated 70 million pounds hundreds of feet into the air, and designed the workers' platforms and routines so carefully that only one man died during the decades of construction. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
This isn't your average art history book. King's story of how the famous dome atop the Santa Maria del Fiore was born is engrossing and entertaining. This isn't just a book for engineers or art history nerds. It's an approachable tale to fifteenth century Florence and one of the greatest architectural marvels of that time.
Paragraphs of engineering details are broken up by Brunelleschi's colorful life: the pranks he played, the feuds he fought, and the secrets he kept. Readers come away, not just knowing how the dome was constructed, by who constructed it. Filippo Brunelleschi could be a called a late bloomer, as he doesn't start gaining recognition until well into adulthood, compared to his peers. Once he arrives on the scene, however, show more his genius makes up for lost time. Winning contest after contest with his inventions that helped construct the famous dome, it almost becomes funny just how intelligent Brunelleschi is. Even so, he still inspires awe.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in architecture, the Italian Renaissance, or a light history read. It's short, and a great addition to any library. show less
Paragraphs of engineering details are broken up by Brunelleschi's colorful life: the pranks he played, the feuds he fought, and the secrets he kept. Readers come away, not just knowing how the dome was constructed, by who constructed it. Filippo Brunelleschi could be a called a late bloomer, as he doesn't start gaining recognition until well into adulthood, compared to his peers. Once he arrives on the scene, however, show more his genius makes up for lost time. Winning contest after contest with his inventions that helped construct the famous dome, it almost becomes funny just how intelligent Brunelleschi is. Even so, he still inspires awe.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in architecture, the Italian Renaissance, or a light history read. It's short, and a great addition to any library. show less
What an unexpected little treat this was. An account of the building of the dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. Begun in 1296 and completed in 1436, the dome itself took nearly a quarter of a century to construct, and even when it was initially designed regarded as potentially impossible to construct, the original designers essentially shrugging their shoulders and hoping God would provide. Provision came in the form of bad-tempered genius Filippo Brunelleschi, master goldsmith, whose years spent treasure-hunting the ruins of Ancient Rome equipped him with the ideas and inspiration which would ultimately not only pull of an amazing feat of engineering, but also do it without the wooden structure that normally show more provided 'centring' while domes were being erected. Along the way, he came up with a few minor inventions that would turn out to be decades ahead of their time, and nobody's quite sure how he did it. This is to say nothing of the ravages of the plague, warfare, professional and political rivalry (with dueling sonnets) the odd disaster and even a spell in prison. It's an epic of human ingenuity. You'd almost say folly, but the end result has endured in its beauty and splendour and made important contributions to the world of art and science, and stands testimony to what humanity can achieve with time, genius, money and an army of workers. The dome endures, but alas, the sonnets are lost. show less
If you're an architecture buff, this is an obvious pick. But it's also full of interesting history about Florence, the birth of the Renaissance, and a cast of Brunelleschi contemporaries: Donatella, Ghiberti, various d'Medicis. King's narrative focuses on Brunelleschi's most famous feat, the construction of the great domed Cathedral of Florence, but also explores how Brunelleschi's accomplishments influenced later Renaissance masters such as DaVinci and Michelangelo.
Obviously challenging to piece together an accurate psychological history of someone who lived 600 years ago, but King's depiction feels authentic. He portrays Brunelleschi as an eccentric, not particularly likeable genius - petty, jealous, paranoid, endlessly show more self-promoting. But you can get away with being eccentric when you promise the moon - in this case, constructing the biggest dome in the world without the use of any central scaffolding - and then deliver! While it's clear that Brunelleschi was a gifted artist, there's also a suggestion that at least part of his genius was having the good sense to leverage information he gathered on long sojourns among the ruins of ancient Rome (ex: the geometric principles of Roman architecture, the techniques of perspective employed by Roman artists) to inform some of his most spectacular feats of engineering, including not just his famous dome but also radical new approaches to hoists, scaffolding, architectural rendering, and transportation.
Having read this, my lingering impression is astonishment. Astonishment that the silk merchant guild that commissioned the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori took a chance on a young artist with no building chops. Astonishment that people seemed so willing to put up with Filippo's eccentricities and annoyances (refusing to play nicely with others, breaking promises, overcommitting himself). Astonishment that in spite of so much historical turmoil, the Cathedral was built at all. Most of all, astonishment that I enjoyed this, given how much of it was devoted to architectural minutiae!
My one recommendation to potential readers: definitely don't do this one as an audiobook! I did, and regret that I didn't have pictures or photos to help me visualize King's descriptions of art and architecture. But as soon as I was done, I spent a lovely half hour on the internet staring a pictures and developing a new, more informed appreciation of Renaissance Florence and Brunelleschi's genius! show less
Obviously challenging to piece together an accurate psychological history of someone who lived 600 years ago, but King's depiction feels authentic. He portrays Brunelleschi as an eccentric, not particularly likeable genius - petty, jealous, paranoid, endlessly show more self-promoting. But you can get away with being eccentric when you promise the moon - in this case, constructing the biggest dome in the world without the use of any central scaffolding - and then deliver! While it's clear that Brunelleschi was a gifted artist, there's also a suggestion that at least part of his genius was having the good sense to leverage information he gathered on long sojourns among the ruins of ancient Rome (ex: the geometric principles of Roman architecture, the techniques of perspective employed by Roman artists) to inform some of his most spectacular feats of engineering, including not just his famous dome but also radical new approaches to hoists, scaffolding, architectural rendering, and transportation.
Having read this, my lingering impression is astonishment. Astonishment that the silk merchant guild that commissioned the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiori took a chance on a young artist with no building chops. Astonishment that people seemed so willing to put up with Filippo's eccentricities and annoyances (refusing to play nicely with others, breaking promises, overcommitting himself). Astonishment that in spite of so much historical turmoil, the Cathedral was built at all. Most of all, astonishment that I enjoyed this, given how much of it was devoted to architectural minutiae!
My one recommendation to potential readers: definitely don't do this one as an audiobook! I did, and regret that I didn't have pictures or photos to help me visualize King's descriptions of art and architecture. But as soon as I was done, I spent a lovely half hour on the internet staring a pictures and developing a new, more informed appreciation of Renaissance Florence and Brunelleschi's genius! show less
An enjoyable narrative account of how Filippo Brunelleschi solved the architectural and engineering challenges involved in putting the planned dome — the largest masonry dome ever built, apparently — on top of the cathedral in Florence in the first half of the 15th century. King strikes a fairly good balance between the technical and human-interest sides of the story, and manages to avoid a lot of the false dramas and cliffhangers that tend to plague this kind of book. It is renaissance Florence, so of course we get our fair share of plagues, wars, political intrigue and financial skullduggery, and Filippo had fingers in a lot of pies, not all of them bringing him as much credit as the Duomo, but King generally manages to keep the show more focus on what we are here for. show less
There is something remarkable about an architect who designs a building without any idea of how to actually build it. Yet this is what happened when the original plans for a new Cathedral in Florence were drawn up in the late 1200s. What is even more incredible is that the foundation stones were laid, followed by 100 years of building without anyone having resolved the question of how to build the huge Cupola; a key part of the design.
Brunelleschi’s Dome tells the story of Filippo Brunelleschi and how he overcame the issues inherent in the design until the huge Dome was built, inventing new approaches along the way.
Thoughts
Physics was my weakest link at school and this book, at times, contains a lot of mathematics and physics. This show more was not only in describing the building solutions for the Dome itself but also the myriad of challenges to provide the craftsmen with materials needed to build it hundreds of feet in the air. It is a credit to King’s writing in Brunelleschi’s Dome that I was fascinated by the descriptions of the cranes and levers that were invented, solving problem after problem to build the Dome. Even when the subject turned to the architectural design and principles I was able to follow (although perhaps am unlikely to retain) the information set out and never found it dry or dull.
This is not however simply a story of architectural prowess. King sets the scene of life in pre-renaissance Italy wonderfully. He brings to life the sounds and smells of the city. Most compellingly, he shows the reader the unusual political structure of Florence and the intrigue, infighting and personal jealousies that had to be overcome in order to complete the great Cathedral.
A strong recommend for anyone interested in architecture or the beginnings of the Renaissance or just planning a trip to Florence. show less
Brunelleschi’s Dome tells the story of Filippo Brunelleschi and how he overcame the issues inherent in the design until the huge Dome was built, inventing new approaches along the way.
Thoughts
Physics was my weakest link at school and this book, at times, contains a lot of mathematics and physics. This show more was not only in describing the building solutions for the Dome itself but also the myriad of challenges to provide the craftsmen with materials needed to build it hundreds of feet in the air. It is a credit to King’s writing in Brunelleschi’s Dome that I was fascinated by the descriptions of the cranes and levers that were invented, solving problem after problem to build the Dome. Even when the subject turned to the architectural design and principles I was able to follow (although perhaps am unlikely to retain) the information set out and never found it dry or dull.
This is not however simply a story of architectural prowess. King sets the scene of life in pre-renaissance Italy wonderfully. He brings to life the sounds and smells of the city. Most compellingly, he shows the reader the unusual political structure of Florence and the intrigue, infighting and personal jealousies that had to be overcome in order to complete the great Cathedral.
A strong recommend for anyone interested in architecture or the beginnings of the Renaissance or just planning a trip to Florence. show less
This really is a marvelous book, extremely well written, and a convincingly presented history. The depiction of the genius architect is comprehensive, fresh and engaging. One is left with the feeling of understanding of the man, his personality and something of his times. The integration of art and faith, the swirling mysteries of the craft of masonry, and the echoes of classical experience are interesting and thought-provoking themes.
This is a fascinating book that I could hardly put down. It's a well researched book about the architect and builder of the dome of the Florence duomo. But it's so much more than that - filled with interesting tales about life in Florence in the 1400s, facts about the construction methods and brilliance of Brunelleschi as he overcame politics and enemies to succeed in the building the most amazing dome in history.
A contemporary of DaVinci and Donatello and others, he invented machines, he solved engineering feats that were decades ahead of others. While stuffed with information, it never reads like a dry history book - in fact I found myself reading aloud to my husband all through the book. "Listen to this!"
Highly recommend.
A contemporary of DaVinci and Donatello and others, he invented machines, he solved engineering feats that were decades ahead of others. While stuffed with information, it never reads like a dry history book - in fact I found myself reading aloud to my husband all through the book. "Listen to this!"
Highly recommend.
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Author Information
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Ross King is the award-winning and bestselling author of Brunelleschi's Dome, Michelangelo and the Popes Ceiling, The Judgment of Paris, Mad Enchantment, Leonardo and the Last Supper, and Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power, among other books. He and his wife live in Woodstock, Great Britain.
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Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
- Original publication date
- 2000
- People/Characters
- Filippo Brunelleschi
- Important places
- Florence, Tuscany, Italy; Rome, Italy
- Important events
- Renaissance
- Dedication
- For Mark Asquith
and
Ann-Marie Rigard - First words
- On August 19, 1418, a competition was announced in Florece, 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... (show all) for the vaulting of the main Dome of theCathedral 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.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The fact that it was built by men--and built amid war and intrigue, with only a limited understanding of the forces of nature--only makes it more of a wonder.
- Publisher's editor
- Carter, Rebecca; Cazalet, Roger; Bittel, Karl-Heinz
- Blurbers
- Sobel, Dava; Petroski, Henry
- Original language
- English
Classifications
- Genres
- Art & Design, History, General Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir
- DDC/MDS
- 726.6094551 — Arts & recreation Architecture Buildings for religious and related purposes Cathedrals modified standard subdivisions History, geographic treatment, biography Europe
- LCC
- NA5621 .F7 .K56 — Fine Arts 2599.5-2599.9 Architectural criticism Architecture Special classes of buildings Classed by use Public buildings Religious architecture
- BISAC
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- Reviews
- 75
- Rating
- (3.86)
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- 11 — Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, German, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 39
- ASINs
- 17