Brunelleschi's Inspiration

When Brunelleschi began to design the structure of the Florence Duomo's lantern, he was conflicted on how he should go about supporting the arches.  One of his options was to adopt the technique used in Ancient Rome and have tie rods on the arches and cupola.  Brunelleschi had long had an affinity for the architecture of Ancient Rome after he failed to be recognized as one of the first sculptors in Florence during his time.  Nevertheless, he was still a sculptor with a rare creative mind that led to him creating several inventions and works of art.  His desire for inspiration to help with the dome's construction and love for techniques created in Ancient Rome drew him to travel to Rome to see it all for himself.

Works Cited

Prager, Frank D., and Gustina Scaglia. Brunelleschi: Studies of His Technology and Inventions. Dover Publications, 2004.

Parent Map

da Vinci and the Renaissance 2020 Map

Coordinates

Latitude: 41.902783500000
Longitude: 12.496365500000

Timeline of Events Associated with Brunelleschi's Inspiration

Date Event Manage
10 Sep 1468

Verrocchio's Commission

In 1468 it was decided that the appropriate decoration for the lantern Fillippo Brunelleschi had created around 30 years prior was to be a bronze ball (palla) and cross.  A competition was created to determine which artist would be given the honor of creating the palla that was to adorn the top of the Florence Duomo.  While Andrea del Verrocchio was not the winner of the competition, he received the commission to make the palla after the first attempt by another artist was unsatisfactory.  September 10, 1468 marked the day that Verrocchio began his project, along with his colleagues which included a teenage Leonardo da Vinci.

Works Cited:

Bambach, Carmen. Leonardo Da Vinci Master Draftsman: Catalogue to an Exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2003. Yale University Press, 2003.

Neilson, Christina. Practice and Theory in the Italian Renaissance Workshop: Verrocchio and the Epistemology of Making Art. Cambridge University Press, 2019.
27 Jan 1601

Rise and Fall of the Palla del Verrochio

On May 27th, 1471 the bronze ball Verrocchio created was hoisted using a crane to top the lantern and three days later the cross was raised to join it.  Following the completion of the structure, the Florentines are recorded to have broken out into song, singing the Te Deum as they rejoiced.  The palla would remain atop the cupola until January 27, 1601 when a strong lightning strike causes the palla to fall.  It remains missing from the top of the lantern until October of the following year, but the spot where it landed is still marked to this day with a commemorative plaque.

Works Cited:

Neilson, Christina. Practice and Theory in the Italian Renaissance Workshop: Verrocchio and the Epistemology of Making Art. Cambridge University Press, 2019.

“Topping the Dome: from the Lantern to the Verrocchio's Ball - Part 2.” Topping the Dome: from the Lantern to the Verrocchio's Ball - Part 2, Opera Magazine, 5 Aug. 2016, operaduomo.firenze.it/en/magazine/posts/topping-the-dome-from-the-lantern-to-the-verrocchio-s-ball-part-2.

 This circle marks the spot where the Palla del Verrocchio fell in 1601 after being struck by lightning.