Biography on Artist Filippo Brunelleschi - Coursework Example

Number] Filippo Brunelleschi Filippo Brunelleschi was born in Florence, Italy in 1377. He was one of the modern engineers and an architect who was the pioneer of early Italian Renaissance architecture. There is not much detail in history about his early life but it is known that his inclination toward art lead him to be trained as a sculptor and a goldsmith. He was enrolled in the silk merchants’ guild where he was trained as a goldsmith, bronze worker, and metalworker (Patrick 149). Sooner, Brunelleschi bent his talent on architecture rather than sculpture. His professional career throughout dominated as an architect as his works mainly depict the evidence from new architectural classicism. He also reinvented the linear perspective principle in art which had been discovered in ancient Greece. Through this perspective principles, many artists of that time used two-dimensional canvases and created three-dimensional illusions; something which depicted realism and was not seen before. As an architect, he was famous for rebuilding many military forts in Italy. He also designed machinery for his projects and created mechanisms that were hoist-like to support religious performances in churches. He died in 1446 and his tomb is in the Duomo. He holds a big name in history as an architect, engineer, and artist who had exceptional talents and who contributed to the Renaissance period (Patrick 149). Figure 1: Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Prager, 2012) Figure 1 is the major architectural work of Brunelleschi for which he is famously known. It is called the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and is the main church in the city of Florence, Italy. It was constructed in 1436 using marble and brick by the engineering techniques of Brunelleschi. The church is about 502ft high and 376ft wide (Prager 2). Brunelleschi used his techniques and promised the creation of two domes where one would be nested into the other, and promised no elaborated or expensive scaffolding. He didn’t present his idea and technique as he feared that competitors would copy his ideas. Eventually, his 45 meters wide dome came out as the largest masonry dome ever seen. The dome was originally built by Arnolfo di Cambio using wood. Technical problems aroused when the dome had to be reconstructed. However, the dome designed by Brunelleschi is still dominating the city of Florence today and is considered to be a miracle of engineering and design considering it was built in the 15th century (Prager 2). Brunelleschi suffered great difficulties when he took up the responsibility of building the dome. He knew that a usual dome would be built using the support from the scaffolding but in the cathedral the open space was 42m wide influenced by the demands of the Florentines who wanted a tall and soaring dome. Brunelleschi then decided to design a technique through which he would build the dome without scaffolding and supporting it in itself. These techniques turned out to be costly and innovative in the world of architecture (Prager 2). His techniques lead to the building of the tallest dome in Florence and standing even 600 years from then. The dome still is known as Brunelleschi’s Dome throughout the world and it is the structure which covers the beauty, honour, and incomparable power of his expertise. Figure 2: Baptistery Doors (Corrain, 2009) Figure 2 is the second panel of the bronze doors of the Baptistery of Saint John in Florence. The designing of this panel of doors was done by Brunelleschi in 1401 as he won a competition amongst seven other artists of that time. As a project of restoration of the doors, the contract for designing the second pair of doors was given to Brunelleschi. He was approached as being the best bronze caster in Florence. However, after consideration, the job was given to two of the best bronze casters in Florence; Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti (Corrain 12). Brunelleschi and Ghiberti were asked to create a bronze scene similar to the previous shape and the best one would be awarded the commission. Brunelleschi made the model first with perfect finishing, polishing, and he didn’t have to take advice because he was so good at it. Since Ghiberti did the talking throughout the progress, his work was more recognized by the judges in the competition and most of them believed that Brunelleschi couldn’t himself beat Ghiberti as his expertise and talents weren’t much widespread. His model consisted of the sacrifice of Abraham’s son, his movements, the position of Abraham’s finger on Isaac’s chin, the animation, the design of the son’s body, the draperies, the style, gestures, how Abraham’s hand was seized with the pose, design, and style of the boy and the man bent over (Corrain 12). The model consisted of the details in the figures and the performances were shown clearly. All the details and compositions were admired of both the models and thus, the commission was allotted equally to both the artists to work as partners (Corrain 12). However, Brunelleschi opposed to this decision and he was given the entire charge for it. He used his intelligence to design the bronze doors and these doors are still remembered for his excellence and design. Figure 3: Madonna With Child (Fossi, 2004) Figure 3 shows the sculpture: Madonna with Child built by Brunelleschi in 1405. The sculpture spoke a lot about Brunelleschi’s work as it depicted the figure of a woman whose eyes are downwards and she is deep in thought. The baby in her arms is held gently as he leans on her shoulder with intimacy and trust, and his legs interlocked with her arms. The sculpture was about 35 inches high and the material used was clay along with precious materials painting coat. The base of the sculpture has the words ‘Oh Mother of God, remember me’ (Fossi 634). Many historians suggest that this sculpture and the words were related to the commissioner family who gave the order but the sculpture again shows the delicacy and intelligence in Brunelleschi’s work. He used clay to file the details into the figure and depicted several themes of trust, love, and care. It also showed his influence from the Greek and Roman culture as the sculpture represented Mother Mary and her child (Fossi 634). Brunelleschi was the first engineer of the Renaissance Era. He lived in the 14th and 15th centuries and was a huge name in the Italian Renaissance Art. He was a genius of his time and the Renaissance Art would have shaped very differently if he had not contributed to it. His work had the essence of his time as he mixed nature with his techniques. He also visited Rome to study the architecture and ruins which he incorporated in his work. He was one of the firsts to study the Roman and Greek architecture and apply its elements into his work (Patrick 150). Brunelleschi was recognized as an engineer and architect in his time but it is not until today that he is considered to be one of the greatest artists that ever lived. He is receiving the recognition he deserves now. The work on the cathedral of Florence was carried out by Brunelleschi along with other artists including Antonio del Pollaiolo. He also worked and competed against his fellow goldsmith and his rival Lorenzo Ghiberti. Donatello, his friend with whom who visited Rome and studied their architecture, was also a famous artist of that time. There are other several artists of his time who were involved in the Cathedral of Florence project and who learnt the linear perspective from Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi was a genius man and a great sense of understanding of perception and technique in artwork. He was highly talented and intelligent as he gave a new direction to the medieval art and Renaissance architecture. Artists of the middle ages were able to depict the world and the human body but their work lacked a single perception. This flat look in the paintings was discovered by Brunelleschi and thus he fixed this perception. He reinvented the linear perspective technique in his work which applied a single central point onto the canvas and depth was calculated through a discovered method. He would mathematically calculate the object scales present in the paintings to make them seem more realistic. This linear perspective technique reinvented by Brunelleschi was his style and the technique he used in all his paintings. His major participation in history was in the Renaissance Era in Italy and he greatly contributed in influencing and shaping the modern architecture (Patrick 151). Thus, Brunelleschi’s work consisted of several sculptures, buildings, and linear perspective drawing which he drew out of his intelligence and invested into the Renaissance Art in Italy. It was his genius mind and techniques of using material and machines that lead to the creation of great models that serve in the history till today. He was the first engineer of his time and he shaped the modern architecture for several generations of artists and architects to follow. He is a huge name in the Renaissance Art and he has carved his name into the stones of history forever with his unique style of art and thinking skills. Work Cited Patrick James. Renaissance and Reformation: Agincourt, Battle of Dams and Drainage. USA: Marshall Cavendish, 2007 Corrain Lucia. The Art in the Renaissance. USA: The Oliver Press, Inc., 2008 Prager Frank. Brunelleschi: Studies of His Technology and Inventions. USA: Courier Corporation, 2012 Fossi Gloria. Italian Art. USA: Giunti Editore, 2004 Read More