Venice and the Gilded Copper

Verrocchio wanted only the best material for his dome and lantern; this meant that he had to travel to Venice in order to intercept the best gilded copper. His order consisted of eight sheets of copper that took two loads to get to Florence. The finished product of the sphere alone was nearly 2000 kg. 

Source: http://www.florencecity.it/sfera-del-verrocchio-storia-saette-2/ 

Parent Map

da Vinci and the Renaissance Map

Coordinates

Latitude: 45.440847400000
Longitude: 12.315515100000

Timeline of Events Associated with Venice and the Gilded Copper

Date Event Manage

The fall of the Bronze Ball

In 1601, the Florence Duomo lost its bronze ball in a raging thunderstorm. Constructed of nearly two tons of gilded copper and being the highest point in this area of Florence, it was only a matter of time before the sphere was struck by lightning. The sphere did come crashing to the ground, but was quickly rebuilt and restored. The fall of the sphere from the Duomo was shocking and jolting to the people of Florence; in response to this, a white stone has been embedded in the ground in the exact place the ball fell in order to memorialize the engineering feat that was accomplished hundreds of years prior by Verrocchio.

Source: The sign of the fall of Verrocchio's golden ball in Forence. (2015, January 07). Retrieved from https://www.guidedflorencetours.com/en/the-sign-of-the-fall-of-verrocchi...