Flippo Brunelleschi Outline

Filippo Brunelleschi's Dome & Its Construction

I. Introduction & thesis
A. Period of time (The Renaissance): A.D. 1350-1700
1. Renaissance literally means "rebirth", "revival" "restoration" a. Rebirth of the ancient Greek style
b. The neoclassic style of architecture prevailing during the Renaissance
2. Transitional movement in Europe
a. The Renaissance is understood as a historical age that was preceded by the Middle Ages and followed by the Reformation.
b. Between medieval and modern times beginning in the 14th century in Italy, lasting into the 17th century
3. Flourishing in many areas a. Humanistic (Philosophical) revival of classical influence
b. Flowering of the arts
c. Literature
d. Architecture
e. The very beginnings of
modern science
B. Background information of Brunelleschi
1. Lived and worked in Florence from 1377-1446
2. He was trained as a sculptor and goldsmith in one of the typical Florentine workshops
3. His interest in mathematics and the study of ancient monuments tended to turn his work more and more in the direction of architecture
4. As he started off as a member of a goldsmith guild, he later became an architect and sculptor
1. Because of his great techniques and discoveries he was also know as a specialist in mathematics
2. He was also known as an engineer
3. He not only designed and built great architecture, he also invented and found new ways to do things such as lift up the materials he needed to use at high heights for building
5. When he first entered his architecture field, he was frequently thrown out of meetings due to his temper
6. He worked in Rome with his friend Donatello for 3 years
7. He is famous for the daring and original ideas behind his projects
8. He harmoniously re-elaborated the forms of classical architecture
9. Besides the Cupola of St. Maria del Fiore (Duomo)(Brunelleschi's Dome), he had many other architectural works such as:
1. Ospedale degli Innocenti (The foundling children's hospital or orphanage)
2. Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, started 1419
3. Santo Spirito, 1343
4. The Pazzi Chapel
5. Santa Maria degli Angeli (in 1436)
6. The Pitti Palace
7. The Palazzo Quaratesi
8. The Loggia at San Pero a Grada (near Piza)
10. When he died he was buried in Santa Maria del Fiore though his tomb, unknown for centuries, was not discovered until 1972
II. The dome itself
A.
Relevance of location of the dome
1. The dome was part of a cathedral
2. It was located in Florence, Italy
a. Florence became the most important city during the Renaissance
b. The artistic, economic and social changes that are associated with the Renaissance first began in the Italian city of Florence
c. Florence's wealth and success, guided by rich patrons like the Medici and the artists they supported, became a new model for society in Europe
B. Purpose of the dome
1. Arnolfo di Cambio began the building in a Gothic style in 1294 (over one hundred years earlier)
2. The dome was left unfinished as part of the cathedral for quite a long time
a. It was not finished because nobody could think of a way to bridge the central crossing of the cathedral
b. In 1418, a competition was announced for proposals on how to bridge the central crossing of the cathedral in Florence
3. Brunelleschi's bid was backed by a then less important family, the Medici, which would benefit hugely from the completion of the dome a. He purposed his ideas and he won the competition b. In 1423 he was put in complete charge of the Duomo's building works
III. Building the dome
A. The idea and
design
1. His creative design and idea to bridge the central crossing of the cathedral and finish it won the competition and created hope for the city of Florence and its cathedral
2. His design offered to build the cupola in circular cone shaped courses of brickwork forming two shells: a. One light outer shell b. And the main shell (the scaffold) so thick that it all the way up contains a closed circle, without a framework of scaffolding
3. He traveled to Rome with the sculptor Donatello to study architecture
a. There, the two artists investigated various Roman ruins to learn about the design and proportion of buildings, as well as the construction of arches and columns
b. He used Greek designs and proportions
c. Although Brunelleschi never duplicated classical features, he borrowed ideas from the ancient ruins and incorporated them into the design of his dome
4. The dome was completed without supporting scaffolding, columns, arches or pilasters
5. It was 91 m high
6. Its point was sixteen meters high and thirty meters in diameter
7. Brunelleschi's achievement in Florence became a symbol of the Renaissance; blending old Greek designs with modern engineering and artistic ideas to create a new Renaissance style
8. The cathedral and its dome together represent early Renaissance style, one that blends old and new designs
B. The work put into it
1. The completion took most of his life
2. The main structure was finished by 1434
3. Four half-domed tribunes in the apse were constructed in 1438
4. The dome was only completed with a lantern in 1461 by Michelozzo
5. Andrea del Verrocchio added the gilt copper ball in 1496
6. It was built over 150 years
C. Techniques discovered, used and learned
1. Brunelleschi discovered many new techniques that helped build the dome
2. He also learned and developed many techniques that would later help others in history throughout art, architecture, building, etc.
3. He discovered techniques having to do with mathematics, art, architecture, building, construction, and engineering
a. Filippo formulated techniques for lifting construction materials into position
b. He formulated techniques for creating a self-supporting upper shell of domes
4. Brunelleschi brought new scaffolding, arches and hoists, and lighter masonry into Renaissance architecture
5. He also developed the concept of linear perspective, showing depth on a flat surface, which helped in his sketches and planning of the dome and was a great discovery for other artists
IV. Conclusion
A. Results
1. The construction of the dome marked the beginning of Renaissance architecture.
2. It started and lead to other great discoveries made during this period of the Renaissance
3. He even wrote a book called, Rules of Perspective, which was used as a text for many architects in the future
B. Influence and impact of the dome
1. The Renaissance values that grew from the ideas they supported, spread from Florence to other Italian cities and north to the Netherlands.
2. Brunelleschi made a huge impact on architecture in the Italian Renaissance
a. His work was a model for much that followed
b. His new discoveries and techniques would later help many other talented people
3. He also influenced some of the great minds, such as Michelangelo and Donato Bramante
C. Changes it made in the Renaissance
1. It brought a new style and a new way to look at things, at art, and architecture to Europe
2. Concepts changed and the way people looked at things changed from the way it was in the Middle Ages
3. Brunelleschi made an accomplishment that was unable to be completed by anybody else