Filippo Brunelleschi – the greatest architect of the Early Renaissance

The architectural masterpieces of Filippo Brunelleschi have been the hallmark of Florence for many centuries, including the magnificent dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – the pearl of the architecture of the Quattrocento.

Filippo Brunelleschi was also a brilliant sculptor, engineer and mathematician. In addition to his main activity in the field of architecture, he developed unique mechanisms for church theatrical events, military fortifications for the protection of cities, hydraulic special equipment and was successfully engaged in shipbuilding.

Biography

Filippo was the eldest child in the family and from early childhood showed remarkable abilities for science. Thanks to the efforts of his father, who planned to pass on his practice to the boy in old age, the future artist received an excellent humanitarian education. During his studies, Brunelleschi mastered Latin and read the texts of ancient Roman authors in the original with great inspiration.

Young Filippo was sincerely imbued with the ideals of ancient art and gave up a brilliant career as a notary. At the age of fifteen, he became an apprentice to a jeweler, from whom he learned the basics of drawing, sculpting and engraving. And in 1398, Brunelleschi was accepted into the elite guild of artisans Arte della Seta as a jeweler and sculptor.

The very first of the master’s works are considered to be the figurines of the apostles for the altar of the Basilica of Pistoia Cathedral, created in 1399-1400. Skillfully made of bronze, the figurines still adorn the interior of this temple today.

In 1401, an event occurred in the life of Filippo Brunelleschi that radically influenced his subsequent fate. Along with other young authors, he took part in a competition, the participants of which had to present a project for a bas-relief for the gates of the Florence Baptistery. The authoritative jury eventually declared Lorenzo Ghiberti the winner, and Filippo took only second place.

The young artist decided to break with the profession of a sculptor forever and went to Rome to excavate ancient architectural antiquities. Together with Donatello, he earned his living for three years by making jewelry, and devoted all his free time to studying ancient Roman ruins. Thus, Brunelleschi became interested in architecture, which later brought him worldwide fame.

Upon returning from Rome, Filippo not only continued to work in the Arte della Seta guild, but also began to try his hand as an architect. In addition, between 1415 and 1420, the master closely studied the theory of direct perspective and was the first in the world to write a detailed description of it. His contemporaries were greatly impressed by the artist’s revolutionary ideas, and after Brunelleschi showed the public a number of experiments in creating paintings in the center of Florence, he became a real celebrity.

In 1419, he finally received a personal commission to create an architectural project – the Foundling Hospital or orphanage for infants. According to art historians, this building became the first Renaissance-style building in Italy.

From that moment until the end of his days, Brunelleschi never again experienced a shortage of orders. Dozens of buildings in Florence and nearby cities of Italy were built according to his designs and under the personal supervision of the master – masterpieces of the Early Renaissance. The brilliant architect devoted the rest of his life to his favorite work and his only heir – the boy Il Bugiano, adopted in 1415.

Filippo Brunelleschi died on April 15, 1446, at the age of 68 or 69. In honor of the great master’s achievements, his remains were buried with great honors in Florence’s central basilica Santa Maria del Fiore. Today, a sculpture of the architectural genius is installed in the square in front of the famous cathedral, and inside the temple, an ancient epitaph shows tourists the place where this unique man rests in peace.