Brunelleschi completes the dome

In short

The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence, had an unsolved problem: nobody knew how to roof over a gap more than 40 metres wide. Filippo Brunelleschi won the challenge with a double dome, one inside the other, and bricks laid in a herringbone pattern that held themselves up while the work went on. He also invented machines to hoist materials to the top. In 1436 the cathedral was consecrated; the lantern on the summit came a few years later.

Why it matters It showed that with calculation and ingenuity, works that seemed impossible could be built.

Source: Treccani, entry “Brunelleschi, Filippo”

Where we are in the era “Early modern age”

Your turn

Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________

1. When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:

2. Tell it in your own words: what happened?

3. Draw the scene below.

storiascopio.com/en/event/brunelleschi-completes-the-dome/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class