Brunelleschi's Dome

Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
By Ross King
Published in August 2013
208 Pages
Thibault’s Score: 3/5

Ross King’s account of Brunelleschi is a no-bullshit account of how Filippo Brunelleschi built the dome of the Florence Cathedral. The dome was the largest of its day, having beaten the 800 year old record of Hagia Sofia in Constantinople. It would only be surpassed in the late 19th century.

I recently read another book about the construction of the cathedral - The Feud That Sparked the Renaissance. The Feud That Sparked the Renaissance focused on human drama and the disputes between the various parties involved in the creation of the cathedral. This book instead focused on the technical achievements of the construction, giving clearer accounts of the construction.

If I had to recommend a single book about the history of the Florence cathedral, I would definitely recommend this one. It is worth reading if you are interested in the history of architecture, the renaissance, and art. I would not recommend it to a lay audience, because it can be a little bit dry at times.

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