The Dome of the Cathedral, Florence Essay Example for Free

The Dome of the Cathedral, Florence EssayThe Cathedral was designed and built in between 1377-1466 by the architect and visionary Fillipo Brunelleschi and legion(predicate) others. However parts of the createing appear to date back to the 11th century, by a sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio (Farfan, 2001). The cathedral itself is located north of the Piazza del la Signoria and towers over the city. Initially there had been a great deal of competition with regards to who would be granted the contract of building the dome (also known as the Santa female horse del Fiore), but Brunelleschi used the innovative idea of constructing the dome support structure with turn up a wooden center (Farfan, 2001). In 1420, Brunelleschi was granted the contract that involved the informal support being constructed from brick alone (Farfan, 2001). The dome consists of a complicated geometrical design, with an octagonal drum that with several empty shells within to lighten up the inner of the structure , this Brunelleschi called the oculus (the eye). Brick ribs crisscross the interior but do not serve as a support for the building. The springing put of the dome is approximately 177 feet above foundation level. From the base of the drum to the top of the dome is around 108 feet, showing the massive volume of the building as a whole.The radius across the outer edges of the octagonal drum measures 176 feet. An estimated amount of bricks used is in excess of 4 million (Farfan, 2001). The octagonal domes inside the cathedral were completed in succession of one some other in order to create a stable support. The process is complex and dependent of precision timing and measurement. Bricks were set using the herringbone method, being laid on sloping beds in a ring like fashion, the spirals atomic number 18 closed with protruding bricks laid lengths ways instead of breadth.The cones within the spiral are divided into 5 equal geometric points in order to locate the pointed-fifth curvatu re. The axis of the inverted dome corresponds directly with the domes outer structure. The slack banknote corresponds with the bricks beds resting on the inverted cone surface. As work commenced the domes vertex shifts upwards (Farfan, 2001). The completed dome is supported by 3 half domes on the outdoor of the structure. The quinta acuto (eight corner ribs), the method of the radius divided into four-fifths of the maximum crossing span, is visible in even the half domes (Salvadori, 1980).Sandstone bricks were used within an iron reinforcement, prevent the divulge if the dome under pressure from its parallels (Salvadori, 1980). This was the largest dome built without wooden centering. This was the first instance that Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders were used in architecture since the ancient times. Constructed out of sandstone and iron reinforcements, Brunelleschi designed tiles for the surface of the dome that would be tripping to maintain and resist the elements (Salvadori, 1980). The outer facades are constructed with visible cantilevered arches, presenting themselves as alcoves facing onto the street below.atop the Dome is Brunelleschis famous lantern which is hollow marble. The ornately decorated exterior is what can be described as truly Renaissance grace, elegantly to date elaborately consisting of numerous alcoves, facades and frescoes. The main facade is pink and green. The interior has stained glass windows in order to allow as much light in as practicable and the paving entering the dome is marble. The interior also has frescoes of The Last Judgement, by artists Giorgio Vasari and Frederico Zuccari. The interior is exceedingly vast with extraordinarily high ceilings and is extremely well lit.The oculus sheds a direct beam into the middle of the building. The Duomo itself fits in with the Renaissance architecture surrounding it, including The Baptistery designed by rival Ghiberti, whose every bit Gothic sculpture and is equaled if not surpa ssed by Brunelleschis ornate facade. All machinery and hoists used in the building of the dome have been removed, however numerous raw students of architecture have rebuilt models using versions of the machinery that would have been utilized, as well as making bricks in the same way as Brunelleschi would have done.Because of the openness of the structures interior, it is easy to move around in and facilitates vast numbers of people at one time. It is also constructed so that most of the inner quadrant can be viewed from the center of the building. Brunelleschi initiated the idea of linear panorama, with all points converging to a primalized point, this is evident in his construction of the dome particularly. This was also the beginning of the humanism approach, centre on the sensibilities of people. This meant that the building itself had to be as user friendly as possible while still being an aesthetic asset to the city.The idea of perspective for Brunelleschi was the most impo rtant aspect of humanism, drawing from the postulate that art is how the person views their world. Therefore the artistry of the dome had to by some standards be appropriate to the period, favorable climate and what the people of the city were expecting (see footnote 2). As a result, much of the richness associated with renaissance art is visible in the construction of the dome, but it system relatively unobtrusive, its color in being predominantly bronzes and burnt browns.The interior flagged marble floor has alternating pieces of dark ruddy brown and cream, making at much aristocratic than religious. This lends itself heavily on the idea that the initial purpose of the dome was not religious, but more a centerpiece around which the city could be arranged. It has the landmark quality that associates it with other countries and cities almost via its competitiveness. The admittance to the dome, through Giottos bell tower, which was completed only after the death of Brunelleschi. Three doors mark the entrance and exits of the dome. The main door is called the Almond door due to its elliptical shape. It has a painting of The Assumption of Our Lady Into Heaven, by the painter Nanni Bianco. Rich renaissance colors mark this painting as a distinct aspect of renaissance culture. High up on the side portals of the main painting are devil small statues of the prophets by sculptor Donatello. There is also a mosaic in the lunette of the portal door, by the artists Domenico and Davide Ghirlandiao.Due to the three small domes support the dome itself, entrances and exits are through these portals, meaning that one can basically enter and proceed through the opposite entrance if necessary. The Dome of Florence Cathedral could basically be described as a landmark that does not intrude on other buildings within the Florentine setting, instead it serves as a central point in the city and has become a tourist attraction over the years. For students, the remarkable inventio n of stone supported domes has also become a topic of discussion.Previously having used wooden support scaffolds, the stone version may have been costly and time consuming but it gave the opportunity to build stronger and larger constructions. IT has been used over centuries as a gathering place for local meetings and also to house the some of the nost beautiful renaissance artworks of time. It is possible that Brunelleschis ideas about light and space influenced more modern architects such as Lloyd Wright, whose ideology was to allow as much natural light as possible into the building.The colors of the interior of the dome allow this natural light emanating from the oculus to be expanded and rather than giving the cold internal feel such as some of the older basilicas would, the dome gives off an intensely warm energy. This was certainly an invention that changed the face of architecture and has long held it congeal in the history of the art. Sources Dome Almond Door. 2008. Firen zeViva. com. Accessed 10 February 2008. (http//www. firenzeviva. com/duomo-firenze/duomo_almond_door. htm) Farfan, Maria.2001. Dome Structures Santa Maria Del Fiore (Florence). McGill University, Philosophy of Structures. Accessed 10 February 2008). http//www. arch. mcgill. ca/prof/sijpkes/arch374/winter2001/sfarfa/ensayo1. htm Salvadori, Mario. 1980. Florence Cathedral Dome. architecture Around The World. Accessed 10 February 2008. http//www4. bfn. org/bah/a/virtual/italy/flor/cath/dome. html The Early Renaissance in Florence (date unknown). NGA. Accessed 10 February 2008. http//www. nga. gov/collection/pdf/gg04en. pdf