Behind the Florence Cathedral

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During the Renaissance, we did not have the same technological tools and skills, which made finding the best architectural design behind the Florence Cathedral very difficult - but Brunelleschi found a way

    In chapter 12 of the text "Cultures and Values" by Cunningham Lawrence, they go over many topics and important events of the the early Renaissance. In this post, I am choosing to go over the topic of the great Florence Cathedral. There were many complications in regards to correctly building the dome of this Cathedral without the building technologies we have in todays day of age. It was said that no one knew how to go about building the Cathedral because of the technicalities of the support needed on the inside and outside of the dome. However Brunelleschi was up for the challenge, "Brunelleschi worked on this problem between 1417 and 1420, trying, simultaneously, to solve the technical aspects of doming the building and convincing the skeptical cathedral overseers that it could be done" (Cunningham 272). 

Background 

    Before Brunelleschi begin his work on the Florence Cathedral, it had been previously started by Arnolfo di Cambio over the remains of the older church of Santa Reparata a century ago. Cambio was only able to complete the nave of the building, because no one could figure out how to support such a vast area. Brunelleschi's solution was "By putting a smaller dome within the larger dome to support the greater weight of the outside dome, he could not only cover the great tambour but also free the inside of the dome from any need for elaborate armatures or supporting structures" (Cunningham 272). Brunelleschi's incredible idea allowed for the dome to become strong enough to support the whole construction. His great success with building the Florence Cathedral was considered a huge technical achievement. 

Episode II: Brunelleschi and the Dome of Florence Cathedral - Rocky Ruggiero
Florence Cathedral
Florence, Italy'
 completed on March 26, 1536

Brunelleschi's Success 

    Brunelleschi will always be praised and remembered for brilliantly building the great Florence Cathedral. Something I found very inspiring was the effect this architectural structure had on other buildings for years to come. The text states, "Years Later, writing about his own work on the dome of Saint Peter's in the Vatican, Michelangelo had Brunelleschi's dome in mind when he said 'I will create your sister; bigger but no more beautiful'"(Cunningham 272). Even now centuries later, it is still being appreciated and admired by millions, because of its breathtaking beauty. I plan on visiting Italy this summer and I cannot not wait to admire this Cathedral in Florence, especially after being educated on the determination that went into the making of it. 

Tuscany Travel Guide | Art in Florence | The Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore | Podere Santa Pia, Holiday house in the south of Tuscany
Inside the Florence Cathedral 
The upper view of the Dome

To learn more click here to watch this short video on how Brunelleschi completed the dome


Work Cited

author, About the, et al. “Brunelleschi's Dome of Florence Cathedral.” Florence Inferno, 16 May 2020, https://www.florenceinferno.com/the-brunelleschi-dome/. 

Cunningham, Lawrence, et al. Culture & Values: A Survey of the Western Humanities, Cengage Learning,                    Boston, MA, 2015.

“How an Amateur Built the World's Biggest Dome.” YouTube, 24 Jan. 2014, https://youtu.be/_IOPlGPQPuM. 









Comments

  1. ThinkerFebruary 13, 2022 at 8:05 PM

    I love the opening Ava! It was a powerful hook that not only gives a good idea of the setting, but also addresses the topic at hand. Do you think if Brunelleschi never solved the problem that the Cathedral would remain undone until someone else came to fix it or do you think they may have given up and built a simple roof instead? I believe you have done a well job, but I think you could have broken up the paragraphs as well and included a bit more detail for depth. Good job!

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