Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)

Filippo Brunelleschi was an Italian architect, sculptor, and jeweler. Also, the first architect of the Renaissance, he formulated the principles of linear perspective, which applied to the pictorial depiction of space until the end of the 19th century.

Drawn portrait of Brunelleschi.
Portrait of Filippo Brunelleschi

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About His Life

Brunelleschi was born in Florence in 1377 to the family of a noble notary and was the second of three sons. He originally studied to be a goldsmith and sculptor, at Arte della Seta. Yet, it is unclear how he became an architect. Also, Brunelleschi’s transition from theGothicmedieval style to the new architecturalRenaissance风格仍是一个谜。Furthermore, he created military fortifications in several Italian cities. Additionally, Brunelleschi died in Florence on April 15, 1446, and his body rests at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Filippo Brunelleschi sculpture in a light stone with him looking upward with a pencil and writing materials in his hands.
Statue sculpture of Brunelleschi, Luigi Pampaloni, 1830

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Brunelleschi’s Dome

His most important project was the dome that encloses the Cathedral of Florence (Santa Maria del Fiore), which is also known as the “Brunelleschi’s Dome.” At the time Brunelleschi created the piece, it was the largest dome in the world that stands without supporting structures. Its stability is provided by the architectural elements of the cathedral. The dome is a masterpiece of beauty and engineering, an innovative structure for its time, and in many ways it is unmatched. Moreover, the cathedral finished and became consecrated in 1436. However, the top of the drum remained unfinished after Brunelleschi’s death.

Filippo Brunelleschi's Dome view from Giotto's Campanile: a large light colored structure with dark red and brown dome-roofs.
Brunelleschi’s Dome, Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy

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Another photo of Santa Maria del Fiore from a different angle. Additionally, the structure is located in Florence, Italy.
Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy

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His other major architectural work is the Hospital of the Innocents, also known as the Foundling Hospital. The Innocent façade was a new concept in Florentine architecture, distinctly different frommedievalbuildings.

Firenze, lo Spedale degli Innocenti: A large structure with a courtyard at the center and arches over the doors of the interior.
Hospital of the Innocents, Brunelleschi, Florence, Italy

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Many of the structures built by Brunneleschi are key earlyRenaissancestructures. By commission of the Medici family in 1420, the architect built the sacristy of San Lorenzo and the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence. Additionally, he created the Pazzi Chapel, commissioned by the Pazzi family in 1429, the Santa Maria degli Angeli, and the Church of Santo Spirito, which begun in 1436.

Photo of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence.
Basilica of San Lorenzo, Brunelleschi, Florence, Italy

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As a jeweler, in 1401, he fought to makebronzereliefs for the gates of the Baptistery of Florence. In addition, he made a gilded bronze panel that depicted the sacrifice of Isaac. However, the committee chose the panel by Lorenzo Gilberti for a more personal and elegant depiction of the Biblical scene.

Bargello: Photo of the sacrifice of Isaac in a bronze panel, created by Brunelleschi.
Sacrifice of Isaac, Brunelleschi, 1401

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Features of Brunelleschi’s Style

His architectural style is a very sophisticated classicism, which gained inspiration from the 12th century TuscanRomanesqueor Proto-Renaissance style, as well as ancient Roman architecture. In regard to allClassic Styleorders, he preferred theCorinthian Orderand decorative elements of his architecture, carved in a very clear style.

Florence, Duomo di Firenze: A photo of the ornaments placed on the side of a structure.
Florence, Duomo di Firenze

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The Importance of Brunelleschi’s Studies

Filippo Brunelleschi “rediscovered” the principles of linearperspective. Based on these principles, he drew or painted with a single vanishing point to which all the lines on the same plane converge. Thus, objects appear smaller as they are placed further in the distance. Additionally, later this was documented by the architect and writerLeon Battista AlbertiatDe Piturain 1435, and then Florentine painters and sculptors became obsessed with it.

Brunelleschi's Re-discovery of the Vanishing Point in Linear Perspective- Diagram of Brunelleschi's experiment with linear perspective.
布鲁内莱斯基监督完成时代的消失点in Linear Perspective

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Info sources:

https://www.biography.comhttps://www.florenceinferno.comhttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Filippo-Brunelleschihttps://www.geni.comhttp://www.encyclopedia.comhttps://www.britannica.com

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