Competing Geniuses: The Dome of Florence

Filippo Brunelleschi spent 20 years designing and the world’s largest brick dome, and he was a goldsmith.  This dome was the crowning achievement and victory of Brunelleschi’s life.  It was preceded by designing clocks, formal art school, mastering architecture; and extensive study of old Greek and Roman texts.  He lived in the beginning of the Renaissance and inspired men like Leonardo Di Vinci and Michelangelo with his designs and art.  He was, in the renaissance sense of the word, a true genius, the kind of renaissance man that Kenny talks about in his earlier post.

His struggle to build the dome was a very personal one.  His efforts were often sabotaged and criticized by his rival, Lorenzo Ghiberti, who was commissioned to work on the dome alongside Brunelleschi.  Lorenzo too had great fame in Florence as an artist and architect.  In fact, he had beaten Brunelleschi before to win a commission to build the bronze doors to the Saint John Baptistery.  By nature Brunelleschi was an intense man who easily lost his temper.  He often vied against his rival. 

Both of them published poetry which criticized the other and fought for leadership when constructing the dome.  To those who had commissioned the dome and to the city of Florence, the construction of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral became more about Brunelleschi and Lorenzo’s genius rivalry than about the church or city.

The drama of the two competing geniuses reflected on how the individual became such a focus in the renaissance.  Individual exceptionalism and recognition evolved from then to be so important to the modern world.  Every year at BYU I hear how we need to find heroes in our life to look up to.  Many modern books on success recommend that in one way or another we focus on the individual, ourselves or our fellow men.  No one would want to read seven 400 page books on an English wizard community, but everyone loves the Harry Potter story.