Filippo Brunelleschi

{"Id":2631,"Name":"Filippo Brunelleschi","Biography":"\u003Cstrong\u003EBRUNELLESCHI (or BRUNELLESCO), FILIPPO (1379-1446),\u003C/strong\u003E Italian architect, the reviver in Italy of the Roman or Classic style, was born at Florence in 1379. His father, a notary, had destined him for his own profession, but observing the boys talent for all sorts of mechanism, placed him in the gild of goldsmiths. Filippo quickly became a skilled workman, and perfected himself in the knowledge of sculpture, perspective and geometry. He designed some portions of houses in Florence, and in 1401 he was one of the competitors for the design of the gates of the \u003Ca href=\u0022http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptistery%2C_Florence\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EBaptistery\u003C/a\u003E of San Giovanni. He was unsuccessful, though his work obtained praise, and he soon afterwards set out for Rome. He studied hard, and resolved to do what he could to revive the older classical style, which had died out in Italy. Moreover, he was one of the first to apply the scientific laws of perspective to his work. In 1407 he returned to Florence, just at the time when it was resolved to attempt the completion of the cathedral church of \u003Ca href=\u0022http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_del_Fiore\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003ESanta Maria del Fiore\u003C/a\u003E. Brunelleschi\u0027s plan for effecting this by a cupola was approved, but it was not till 1419, and after innumerable disputes, that the work was finally entrusted to him. At first he was hampered by his colleague \u003Ca href=\u0022/asp/database/art.asp?aid=2746\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 class=\u0022link\u0022\u003EGhiberti\u003C/a\u003E [1378-1455], of whom he skilfully got rid. He did not live to see the completion of his great work, and the lantern on the summit was put up not altogether in accordance with the instructions and plans left by him. The great cupola, one of the triumphs of architecture, exceeds in some measurements that of St Peters at Rome, and has a more massive and striking appearance. Besides this masterpiece Brunelleschi executed numerous other works, among the most remarkable of which are the Pitti palace at Florence, on the pattern of which are based the Tuscan palaces of the I5th century, the churches of San Lorenzo and Spirito Santo, and the still more elegant Capella del Pazza. The beautiful carved crucifix in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is also the work of Brunelleschi. He died in Florence on the 16th of April 1446, and was buried in the cathedral church of his native city.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESee Manetti, \u003Cu\u003EVita di Brunelleschi\u003C/u\u003E (Florence, 1812); Guasti, \u003Cu\u003ELa cupola di Santa Maria del Fiore\u003C/u\u003E (Florence, 1857); von Fabriczy, \u003Cu\u003EFilippo Brunelleschi\u003C/u\u003E (Stuttgart, 1892).\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Cu\u003ESource:\u003C/u\u003E\u003C/strong\u003E Entry on the artist in the \u003Ca href=\u0022http://59.1911encyclopedia.org/B/BR/BRUNELLESCHI.htm\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E1911 Edition Encyclopedia\u003C/a\u003E.\u003Cp\u003E","Awards":null,"HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":true,"HasRelationships":true,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":true,"HasLetters":false,"HasLibraryItems":false,"HasProducts":false,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":true,"TotalArtworks":9}