Focus on the Florence Cathedral Ghiberti & Brunelleschi

The Baptistry Doors A contest was held for a design for the doors of the Florence cathedral 34 judges (including Lorenzo Medici) could not agree on a winner so Brunelleschi and Ghiberti were awarded the contract together. Brunelleschi refused and left town.

Ghiberti (1381-1455) Artist in metal work                    Ghiberti (1381-1455) Artist in metal work Ghiberti created scenes in graded relief Ghiberti used landscapes and architectural forms to show perspective

contained 10 squares, or reliefs                                            contained 10 squares, or reliefs Michelangelo called them the Doors of Paradise

When he finished Ghiberti was asked to do another set of doors. They depict the events of Christ’s life and the events leading to His life.

Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 – 1446) Sculptor and architect

Brunnelleschi completed the project of the dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. This was a complex task for the time.

The cathedral was so enormous that the usual methods of fixed scaffolding from the ground could not be used. It seemed quite impossible to roof over a space so huge without some sort of reinforcement.

The challenge was resolved by Brunelleschi who was an expert in the rules of perspective and mathematics, as well as being a real enthusiast for the construction techniques used by the ancient Romans.

He got his final inspiration from an attentive study of the cupola of the Pantheon, which had also been carried out without scaffolding and with a double wall.

Eventually he suggested announcing a competition for the project of a cupola with the following requisites: had to be octagonal measure 46 meters in diameter at the base be built without scaffolding and appear to be at least double in size Brunnelleschi was quite sure that he would win.

The bricks were laid on sloping beds The bricks were laid on sloping beds. Before closing each ring of bricks, the workmen placed a row of bricks whose longer sides protruded with respect to the bricks resting on the conic surface. This arrangement, known as a herring-bone, displays a spiral profile.

To build a dome without the use of a supporting framework, each of the masonry rings that compose the dome must be completed in succession. This was the method used by Brunelleschi, and illustrated in the model of the masonry layers. Read pg. 281 in book.