Brunellesci's Dome

Brunellesci’s Dome, a chronicle of the building of il Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence Italy, got a thumbs up from all attendees of the Bonnie Lea Book Club, neatly fitting into our objective of reading books we would not otherwise go out and pick up on our own.

Jeff led the discussion with the style of writing: no dialogue, too brief in many important descriptions of architecture, construction and machines, while admirably capturing the lifelong rivalry between Phillipo (Brunellesci) and Lorenzo (Ghiberti – artist of the Paradise Doors, and many other works of timeless art), as well as projecting rich historical context (more on that below). Bill countered that this style effectively and properly slowed the reading down, reflecting the tedium and patience required for a project that took three decades to complete, characterized by incredible toil and ingenuity.

For background, the construction of the Dome occurred in the early 1400’s, nearly 100 years after the wool guild approved Neri’s vision for the world’s greatest cathedral dome, larger than Rome’s Pantheon and even the subsequently built St Peter’s Basilica, following decades of repeated Black Death pandemics throughout the late 1300’s. Brunelleschi was the construction engineer who built it – without internal scaffolding, an unheard of achievement. He changed architecture, but took many of his engineering insights to the grave.

Brunelleschi began as a young and talented goldsmith by trade, clocksmith by avocation, then earned the capomaister designation through a design competition, and became fiercely protective of the project and his methods.

One of our emerging themes as a book club of ten years is an appreciation for books that adequately describe the life, the culture, the Zeitgeist of times and places in history. Good historical novels can immerse us in these times, but the task feels more detached with a chronicling of events, as with this book. Yet it rose to the challenge, showcasing the effects of genius on mankind. An effective theme was examination of before and after events: protection of intellectual property – a mainstay of western business today; appreciation and elevation of architecture as an art form; creation of a clock with an alarm to manage workers’ hours; the power centers of 15th century Italy (e.g. the Wool Guild); and the more timeless theme of a life so focused on the work that even a family was never an option. Genius inventors solve large problems above all else. This chronicling projected as deep an appreciation for the lessons of history, through the example of Brunellesci’s imprint on his time, as the best historical fiction.

Jeff also took our discussion into the middle chapters which highlighted the machines, the construction techniques, the insight and ground-breaking ingenuity that Brunelleschi brought to his project. The chapter “Some Unheard of Machine” described the ox-hoist which eclipsed the rota magna (great wheel) that had lifted stone for centuries. The chapter “Chain of Stone” outlined how limestone beams secured with iron links supported the base of the octagon against the lateral thrust of an arch, and how wooden chains, lighter and with higher tensile strength, made up the higher concentric rings within the dome itself. We also learned how his herringbone masonry pattern solved the 30 degree natural shear problem (where gravity > friction) of masonry above that pivotal 30 degree incline. The Pointed Fifth (Quinto Acuto) design, mathematically elegant and visually aesthetic presented structural challenges solved only by genius. The result of all these machinations was an object of divine beauty.

That discussion brought us to the question, can we build similar works of art today? The book offers this perspective as another lesson from history: today’s computer modeling, high strength plastics, aluminum and other construction materials make large domes and spans safer today, construction more predictable. Even so, Jeff described the difficulties the Boston Harbor Hotel’s spectacular harbor arch had in its permitting stage in Boston; many thought it was too dangerous to build. Back in the day, large construction projects often ended only when the walls came tumbling down.

The man Brunellesci, would have been a difficult person to like. His antics for manipulation, subterfuge, and revenge were evident throughout the story. He was far from a perfect man, but was ultimately buried within the cathedral, a fitting acknowledgement of his crowning contribution to Florence.

Is hard to understand why Brunellesci’s stature is not commonly held among the other Renaissance geniuses of his time: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello, But if you’ve ever taken the steps up to the lantern of il Duomo, or if you ever plan to visit Florence, this book will magnify your appreciation for what Neri, thousands of toiling workers, the 15th century Wool Guild, and especially Phillipo Brunellesci gave us. Divine Beauty.

We dedicated this meeting to Jeff’s mother on the legacy of a life well lived, validated by what we leave behind.