The architect, sculptor, inventor and scientist Filippo Brunelleschi was a true innovator and genius of his time. He made an invaluable contribution to the cultural heritage of not only Italy, but the whole world. The unique look of Florence was created largely thanks to the architectural masterpieces of Brunelleschi. Travelers who find themselves in this amazing city should definitely see the outstanding works of the master and feel their involvement in the high art of the Early Renaissance.
Biography
The future great creator was born in 1377. Unlike other Florentine artists, he came from a difficult family of artisans.
As befits children from wealthy families, Filippo received a brilliant humanitarian education. From an early age he studied Latin, literature, literature, theology. The young man showed an extraordinary talent for exact sciences, earnestly studied arithmetic, geometry and physics, surprising later with his knowledge of the famous scientist Paolo Toscanelli (Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli). Even at a young age, the versatile talented Filippo was fond of painting, and at the same time he designed and made all kinds of devices and technical innovations.
The love of creativity determined Brunelleschi's life path, who decided to devote himself to jewelry, which in the Middle Ages was closely associated with the art of sculpture and architecture.
Acquiring a profession, he practiced drawing, modeling, engraving, studied with the famous jeweler Linardo di Matteo Ducci in Pistoia, and quickly excelled in his chosen path. In 1398 he became a member of the Florentine Guild of Arts Arte della Seta (Arte della Seta). In 1402 he left for Rome, where for several years he meticulously mastered the principles and features of structures of ancient times.
Returning to his hometown, Filippo Brunelleschi quickly gained immense authority and respect from the people of Florence. For many years he was entrusted with the function of chief architect, who was engaged in urban planning and fulfilling important government orders.
Creator of the scientific theory of perspective
Despite the fact that there is no documentary evidence of theoretical developments and discoveries of Brunelleschi, it is he who is credited with authorship of the idea of a direct perspective. Thanks to his innovative view of art, masters of the 15th century and subsequent centuries discovered a way to convey the depth of space and external volume.
In his theoretical research, Filippo Brunelleschi, Based on the achievements of ancient creators and the theses of technical sciences known to him, he gathered together in a single system disparate ideas about a linear perspective. He deduced the laws of three dimensions, symmetry and proportion, which extended to both painting and architecture. For the latter, their use was especially important, since it allowed to create a three-dimensional image of buildings, to take into account all the features and complexity of structures, before the start of construction work.
Without knowledge of the perspective, the work of contemporary artists, sculptors, architects and engineers is impossible.
Sculptural work
The creation of sculptural works belongs to the early stage of Brunelleschi's work. Not all creations were saved. For example, the statue of Mary Magdalene, made of wood to decorate the church of Santo Spirito (basilica di Santa Maria del Santo Spirito), burned down in a terrible fire in 1471.
Particularly noteworthy is the work "Crucifixion" in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella (basilica di Santa Maria Novella), dating back to about 1410.
The sensual, refined figure of the Savior was created, according to giving, as a result of a creative dispute with Brunelleschi's best friend, Donatello.
The most famous sculptural creation is the bronze relief "Sacrifice of Isaac" (1401), made for the competition of masters who pretend to design the doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni (battistero di San Giovanni).
The work is distinguished by originality, realism and freedom of compositional decision. Despite the fact that Filippo did not win the competition, the bronze relief was recognized as a work worthy of the highest ratings. Art lovers can see it at the Bargello National Museum in Florence (Museo nazionale del Bargello).
The most famous architectural creations
The most famous architectural works of authorship by the master Filippo Brunelleschi are, of course, in Florence.
Brunelleschi Dome (Cupola del Brunelleschi)
The main work of the master in Florence, which brought him incredible fame, is the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (la Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore).
In this monumental creation, an ingenious engineering idea is embodied: with the gigantic dimensions of an octagonal design (its height is 90 meters), it was possible to create lightness, harmony, simplicity and clarity of forms. The construction of the dome began in 1420 and ended after 14 years. During an unprecedented construction, a young architect, who had no previous experience working with such large-scale objects, came up with and implemented several unique techniques that ensured the stability and reliability of the structure:
- The bend of the angle of the ribs corresponded to 60 degrees, and the level of inclination was maintained thanks to wooden patterns moving upwards as new rows of masonry appeared;
- Brickwork was carried out not horizontally, but with a slope inward (according to the Roman method), which weakened the internal spacer and reduced the load on the base of the building;
- The bricks were located "herringbone", due to which there was no need to use circles (special arched boards for the construction of stone vaults);
- The dome consisted of two shells, while the inner one played the role of a powerful frame created from reinforcement woven into the masonry, and the outer one performed protective and decorative functions.
Moreover, the architect developed special gears with gears to facilitate the lifting of multi-ton building materials to great heights. Brunelleschi carefully thought out the smallest details and accessories. He developed a system of gutters, internal stairs and walkways. His authorship belongs to the drawings of the lantern with edicles (semicircular protrusions) crowning the design.
The white marble building at the top of the dome was completed after the death of the architect, led by Antonio Manetti and Bernardo Rossellino.
The Brunelleschi dome is considered not just one of the most popular attractions, but the main architectural symbol of Florence. Every day, thousands of tourists climb to its observation deck, breaking more than 460 steps, and enjoy a magnificent panoramic view from a bird's eye view.
- You can find out more interesting facts about Brunelleschi during the author's sightseeing tour with the guide Natalya Kolesnikova. Recommend!
Educational house
In parallel with the work on the dome of the Duomo, Brunelleschi supervised the design and construction of other objects, for example,Ospedale degli Innocenti - An educational home for orphans abandoned by their parents. Within the walls of the institution were supposed to be rooms for babies, classrooms and craft workshops, allowing children to acquire a profession. Construction work began in 1419 and, due to lack of funding, ended only in 1445, already with the participation of a student of Brunelleschi, Francesco Della Luna.
The stylistics of the building and the loggia of the shelter had a huge impact on the development of not only Italian, but also world culture, becoming the standard of architecture of the Early Renaissance. The concept was based on innovative ideas born of motives of ancient Roman, Gothic and Romanesque architecture.
The facade of the first floor of a 70-meter building is an aerial arcade, based on elegant Corinthian columns made of dark gray stone. This unusual color effect, giving the structure a dynamic and rhythmic character, was subsequently often borrowed by Florentine architects. The integrity and completeness of the composition is created thanks to the wide staircase connecting the building with a spacious courtyard. Side spans without arcades give rise to a sense of monumentality and solidity.
Ospedale degli Innocenti is located on the square of the Holy Annunciation (piazza della Santissima Annunziata), in the historical center of Florence. For several centuries, a charity continued to function within the walls of the building. In addition to the art museum, today there are women's and children's shelters, a nursery, and a motherhood school. A visit to the Orphanage is included in many excursion programs, causing great interest and delight among tourists.
- We recommend reading: how to spend effectively 3 days in Florence
Sacristy at the Basilica of San Lorenzo
The building of the old Florentine church of San Lorenzo (Basilica di San Lorenzo), built in 393, during the time of St. Ambrose of Mediolan, was renovated and rebuilt in the XI century.
In the process of reconstruction, the basilica acquired a Romanesque style of architecture, without losing the early Byzantine architectural ideas. At the beginning of the 15th century, the city authorities decided to reorganize the dilapidated church, which did not have a dome then and consisted of three small naves.
Filippo Brunelleschi worked on the creation of the reconstruction project. The architect built sacristy (sacristy), and also thought out how to expand the space of the building by designing it in the form of a Latin cross. He developed models and sketches of family chapels for representatives of the Medici clan, the dome of the basilica, and options for the interior and exterior decoration of the walls. By 1429, a significant part of the work had already been completed, but not completely completed due to the sudden death of Giovanni di Bicci de 'Medici, the project customer. Further reconstruction was carried out a few years later, under the direction of another architect - Michelozzo di Bartolomeo (Michelozzo di Bartolomeo), who somewhat changed the creative plans of Brunelleschi.
Chapel pazzi
The construction of the Pappi Chapel (Cappella dei Pazzi) in the Basilica di Santa Croce, named after the customer of the project - Florentine wealthy aristocrat Andrea de Pazzi, is one of the most graceful and elegant architectural works of the master.
Design and construction work began in 1429, and ended several decades later, after the death of Brunelleschi. The creator was given the difficult task of organically “fitting” the chapel into the architectural ensemble of the medieval basilica by placing a new building on a complex site in configuration. The result was a surprisingly light, airy structure, dramatically different in its style from traditional Roman and Gothic buildings.
Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli
Oratorio Santa Maria degli Angeli is another large-scale architectural work of Brunelleschi in the field of church architecture, which, unfortunately, the master could not complete.
The model of the building was created in 1434. The architect readily began work, but after three years the construction had to be suspended due to lack of funds and the outbreak of war between Lucca and Florence. Brunelleschi erected only walls 4.5 meters high. According to some historians, copies of the drawings of the great master have been preserved. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, repeated attempts were made to restore the church building. The last reconstruction was carried out in the 30-40s of the last century.
The lower part of the building is as close as possible to Brunelleschi's original architectural designs. At the heart is a game of geometric shapes: the 8-sided interior is in tune with the 16-sided decoration of the front walls, decorated with alternating deep niches and windows. All these techniques create a clear and elegant plan, give rise to a sense of rhythm and dynamism.
Church of Santo Spirito
The current building of the Basilica of Santo Spirito (Basilica di Santa Maria del Santo Spirito) has become a real symbol of the Early Renaissance.
The old temple was erected on the site of an ancient monastery dating back to the XIII century. After the devastating fire that occurred in the 15th century, it was decided to reconstruct it globally. The authorship of the drawings and layouts of the new church belongs to Brunelleschi. According to the architect's plan, the frontal part of the building was supposed to look at the Arno River, however, the densely standing residential buildings and narrow streets did not allow to realize this plan. The master began work in 1436, the construction of the basilica was completed after his death, 18 years later, with the participation of Antonio Manetti and other students of Brunelleschi.
The layout of the building is made in the form of a Latin cross. The feeling of volume and integrity of the structure is created thanks to semicircular niches located along the perimeter of the structure instead of rectangular side droplets. The rhythmic alternation of colonnades and arched vaults contributes to the dynamics, architectural richness, gives rise to depth and visual expansion of space.
- Near the basilica there is an inexpensive and tasty restaurant Osteria Santa Spirito, take note.
Features of the architectural style
Unfortunately, Brunelleschi did not manage to complete all the work, but each project of the creator immortalized his name, becoming an example of the Renaissance architecture of the early period, organically combining medieval traditions and classical elements.
The best of the masters of Florence passed away in 1446, at the venerable age of 69 years. His work, combining monumentality and poetic grace, high art and the scientific validity of ideas, opened a new era and determined the development of early Renaissance architecture. Brunelleschi's style is distinguished by a clear logic of compositional solutions and a harmonious visual appearance. The system of proportions, the ideal rigor of geometric shapes, the application of a linear perspective, attention to detail and small decorative elements - all these revolutionary techniques for the Middle Ages gave rise to new standards of beauty in art.
