Filippo Brunelleschi:The Genius of Good Design

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Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo)

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Dome by Filippo Brunelleschi, 1420-36.

Began 1296, for over 100 years, the Dome remained unfinished.The original builders of the cathedral in 1296 even left writings hoping that God would offer a solution because they did not have one.

Filippo Brunelleschi was the answer to their prayers.

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In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition offering the enormous prize of 200 gold florins to the architect whose genius could span the unfinished dome of the Florence Cathedral.

From Sculptor / Goldsmith to Architect: Little is known of Brunelleschi's life.

We do know that Brunelleschi studied the Ancient Roman Ruins with fellow Artist Donatello.

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The Pantheon

Roman Aqueducts

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Taking the egg graciously, he gave one end of it a blow on the flat piece of marble, making it stand upright.

Rather than presenting a traditional model, Brunelleschi simply proposed, “Whosoever could make an egg stand upright on a flat piece of marble should build the

Dome, since thus each man's intellect would be discerned.”

When none of the Masters could find a way, Brunelleschi, was told to make it stand.

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.

The craftsmen protested that they could have done the same; but Brunelleschi answered, laughing, “Yes, and they also could have raised the Dome, if they could have only seen the design.”

And so it was resolved that he should be commissioned to carry out this work.

Note: If you interlock your fingers and try to squeeze an egg lengthwise to

break it, you'll find that it can withstand more force than you might expect.

Dome Geometry

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As the dome rises, the necessary slant of each new layer's surface can be found by generating a cone whose apex is located where the dome's centerline intersects the radius of the wall's arc.

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Innovative ring and rib support from oak timbers and Herringbone Brick Pattern.

Creative Construction Techniques

Sometimes to be a genius you have to

break some eggs.

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Brunnelesci’s Development of Perspective Systems

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Inital word panel of Psalm from the Kaufmann Haggadah. Spain, late 14th C.

RAPHAEL: School of Athens

Shows one-point (linear perspective)

Painting Before and After Linear Perspective

One Point Perspective Horizon Line (Eye Level)

Single Vanishing Point

Objects appear to get smaller and closer

together as they go back into space.

Grounded objects that are closer to the

viewer, will be located lower on the page.

Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”

Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”

Historical Development

of Perspective

Systems One Point Perspective (single vanishing point).

painting by Masaccio

("Trinity" fresco in Santa Maria Novella, Florence; c. 1427),

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04/10/23 16Gentile Bellini’s “Procession in Piazza San Marco”, 1496

Two Point Perspective View of a “Street Scene”

All angles converge on two vanishing points located at the ends of the Horizon Line.

All other lines are vertical.

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Two Point Perspective

Horizon Line (Eye Level)

All angles converge on two vanishing points located at the ends of the horizon line.

Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”

Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”

3 Point PerspectiveTo emphasize the

illusion of height in a drawing, three point perspective can be used.

The third vanishing point would be located to the top.

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Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”

Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”

Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”

Illustration by Dick Termes, “New Perspective Systems”