Filippo Brunelleschi

Name
Professor
Subject
Date
Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)
Work: Foundling Hospital

Born in 1377, Filippo Brunelleschi was one of the three sons of Brunellesco Di Lippo, a notary in public affairs, and Giuliana Spini. In 1392, Filippo, begun his apprenticeship as a professional goldsmith and sculptor in Florence although his father wanted him to be a notary. His interest in science and mathematics were brought by Paolo dal Pozzo, a merchant and a medical doctor in Florence, who pushed him to teach science and mathematics and later apply them in his architect career. In 1401, Filippo contested in a competition to design bronze doors with seven other architects. Although his design was magnificent, he lost in the competition and following the setback; he turned to architecture.
Filippo knew a lot about the Roman buildings and admired the techniques the Romans used in raising them. He was able to develop numerous mathematical principles such as the linear perspective which he developed using mirrors. Using the principles, he managed to develop various scenes of Florence. Although he admired the Roman techniques, his designs including the dome of the Florence cathedral and the foundling hospital were based on gothic architecture, and they illustrated classicism in architecture (Vancouver Island University). The dome of Florence cathedral is considered to be the most famous of his architectural designs although it did not express his original architectural idea since it harmonized the architectural style with century-old buildings.

Thus, the foundling hospital was the first of Fillipo’s organic creation, and it marked the beginning of renaissance architecture in Florence.
Filippo’s design of the foundling hospital was more than a milestone in architecture as it was used as an orphan care center for over five centuries. Through its services and sponsorship, Filippo’s design of the foundling hospital represented the evolving humanistic prospects of Florence of the medieval renaissance. Although the portico of foundling hospital was composed of numerous novel features, its form was related to the traditions of the late Gothic architecture as well as the Italian Romanesque. Its revolutionary aspects emanated from Filippo’s inherent sense of classical art. The façade of the foundling hospital marked a new era in architecture and a basis to the buildings that were raised later in Florentine. Its walls were magnificently articulated with classical arts, geometric proportions, modular construction, and symmetrical planning combined with Corinthian capitals thereby creating a rational and logical impression.
In the design of the foundling hospital, Filippo arranged the gallery of the building in an impressive way that could not have been imagined in early Florentine. He purposely balanced the refectory, dormitories, infirmary, cloisters, and the porticoes thereby creating a harmonious and rational design of a hospital. The gallery was later enlarged and decorated thus leaving evidence of the activities that took place in the building during the dynasty of the Medici. Other than providing aesthetic beauty to the building, the decoration diverted the attention of other architects to the art of Antiquity by enchanting and conferring social distinction on them.
Other than designing the dome of the Florence cathedral and the foundling hospital and the discovery of the linear perspective and theatrical machinery, Filippo is remembered for rebuilding military fortification in Pisa, Vicopisano, Rencine, Castellina, and Rimini. He also designed hoist mechanism for most of the churches in Florentine and made the first modern patent for a boat he invented. Filippo died in 1146 at the age of sixty-nine, and his legacy remains for being the father of Renaissance architecture.

Work cited
Vancouver Island University. “Filippo Brunelleschi and the Spirit of Classicism” Vancouver Island University, January 16, 2017. Accessed (February 1, 2018) http://wordpress.viu.ca/compassrose/filippo-brunelleschi-and-the-spirit-of-classicism/