Brunelleschi — How a Major Failure opens the Door
You know the saying, “Where God closes a door he opens a window.” Well he gave Filippo Brunelleschi a huge hole in the roof!
Who is Filippo Brunelleschi?
Venture over to the local professional sports arena, Catholic cathedral, or government capital building, and one will encounter the legacy of Filippo Brunelleschi.
This is because Filippo Brunelleschi designed and oversaw the construction of the first major dome in a thousand years since the fall of the western Roman empire; an accomplishment so grand that it catapulted European society into an architectural, economic, and cultural Renaissance that became the foundation of our modern society.
But before earning the chance to build the dome, he was a failure as a sculptor.
Tournament of Architects
Italian Renaissance artists and architects are fiercely competitive. In 1401, the patrons of the city announce a competition to design and sculpt a set of bronze doors for the Baptistry of Florence (Battistero di San Giovanni) in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Il Duomo). Two men compete as finalists: one is Lorenzo Ghiberti and the other is Filippo Brunelleschi.
Five things to keep in mind:
- This is the biggest contract opportunity these architects have ever received.
- Opportunities of this magnitude are very rare.
- This is a long-term project. In this case, construction lasted 27 years till completion.
- These sculptors are super proud and egotistical. Defeat would mean failure, shame, and a loss of reputation. (As someone ‘wise’ once said, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”)
- These two men are rivals and hate each other.
Unfortunately for Brunelleschi, Lorenzo Ghiberti wins the competition.
Titled the Gates of Paradise, Ghiberti’s set of bronze doors remain one of the most beautiful works of craftsmanship in art history. A copy of the door occupies the space that it once held, and the authentic version is viewable in the Museo del Duomo (Museum of the Cathedral) located very close on the other side of the cathedral.
Losing the competition crushes Brunelleschi. It seems the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance he has been waiting for to showcase his skills as an sculptor. Certainly there would never be a contract like it ever again…
Time to Pivot
Brunelleschi abandons sculpture entirely and visits/moves to Rome to take up the study of Roman antiquity. The ability to design buildings like the ancient Romans is a lost art form. Brunelleschi takes advantage of this opportunity and examines the ruined buildings in order to rediscover the ancient Romans’ building techniques. And if possible, improve upon them.
The unlocked secrets would become the foundation for Brunelleschi as a sculptor turned architect. He masterfully carries out commissions in Florence for construction projects at the Ospedale degli Innocenti (a hospital and house for orphans), Basilica di San Lorenzo, Basilica di Santo Spirito, Pazzi Chapel, and the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
But these are minuscule in comparison to what would be one of the most daunting commissions in the history of architecture and engineering.
And so it begins…
The city and its patrons announce a competition to design and carry out the construction of the dome for the Cathedral of Florence, Santa Maria del Fiore.
Due to the diameter and circumference of the octagonal base, the dome would become the largest on earth and the first built since the Hagia Sofia in Constantinople (Istanbul) which was begun in the 6th Century.
Fortunately for Brunelleschi, he has already examined the Italian “Super Dome” during his time in Rome: the Pantheon.
Brunelleschi’s study and knowledge of the Pantheon would be the key to his success. Even to this day the Pantheon’s dome is tremendous in size and one of the largest in the world.
The oculus, the hole in the very center of the dome, is still boggling.
However, when we observe the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore today, we do not see a copy of the Pantheon’s dome in Florence. In fact, it looks nothing like the Pantheon.
This is because Brunelleschi is not a ripoff artist. He builds upon the artistic tradition available to him and uses it to innovate. In short, this why many sum up Brunelleschi in one word: Genius.
But it is not Brunelleschi’s genius that makes him inspiring. What is moving is this: even when his pride and ego were shattered, he had the resilience to reflect, study, and wait patiently. When the opportunity arrived, he acted and employed his new knowledge and skill.
And even better, two things to consider:
- The doors would have occupied the 27 years of his life needed for study
- The commission to construct the dome was far more important and monumental than designing a set of bronze doors (although still very beautiful).
So it is safe to say…Brunelleschi won the competition
Not that construction was without its challenges, and he still was forced to collaborate with Ghiberti on the project at least at the beginning, but the accomplishment itself is truly groundbreaking. Brunelleschi’s design of an egg-shaped “dome within a dome” to support and distribute the weight of the structure is still used frequently in architecture and engineering.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Italy, I would highly recommend make a trip to Florence and especially to the Duomo to witness and experience the marvel, its example of beauty, enormity, ingenuity, tenacity, and above all patience and perseverance.
