49 pages • 1 hour read
Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
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Book Brief
Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1999192
Book • Nonfiction
Florence, Italy • 15th century
1999
Adult
16+ years
1400L
Super Short Summary
In Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture, Ross King narrates how Filippo Brunelleschi designed and constructed the dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, solving significant engineering challenges that had stumped others for over a century. The book explores Brunelleschi's innovative techniques, his personal background, and the sociopolitical context of fifteenth-century Florence, making a complex historical and architectural topic accessible to a broad audience.
Informative
Inspirational
Adventurous
Contemplative
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
29,619 ratings
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Review Roundup
Ross King's Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture is praised for its engaging narrative and thorough research on the construction of Florence's Cathedral dome. Reviewers appreciate King's ability to simplify complex architectural concepts. However, some find the technical details occasionally overwhelming. Overall, it is a recommended read for history and architecture enthusiasts.
Who Should Read Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture?
Readers fascinated by Renaissance history, architectural innovation, and biographical narratives will enjoy Ross King's Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture. Similar interests are catered to in Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City and Dava Sobel's Galileo's Daughter.
29,619 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Lorenzo Ghiberti
Lorenzo Ghiberti
An accomplished sculptor and architect, famous for crafting the bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery. His professional rivalry with Brunelleschi provides a backdrop to the narrative.
Antonio di Tuccio Manetti
Antonio di Tuccio Manetti
A mathematician and biographer who wrote about Brunelleschi. His work significantly contributes to the mythologization of Brunelleschi as a Renaissance figure.
Giovanni da Prato
Giovanni da Prato
A poet and writer who was an ideological and professional rival of Brunelleschi in the context of the dome's construction. His legacy primarily lies in his contributions to Italian vernacular literature.
192
Book • Nonfiction
Florence, Italy • 15th century
1999
Adult
16+ years
1400L
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