The Dome

The dome that is perched on top of the rest of the church is incredibly impressive, with a height of 375 feet and span of nearly 150 feet across. For many years no one quite understood how the dome was built. In this video by National Geographic, they show how modern day experts theorize how Brunelleschi built the dome, as well as some of the problems faced.

 

Video taken from National Geographic YouTube channel.

 

 I find it very fascinating that even with modern technology and information about hundred of years of history of other similar works we still are not exactly sure how the dome was constructed. Equally interesting to me is that Brunelleschi apparently destroyed all the drawings and plans of the dome. Perhaps he figured that the wonder in something is sometimes not knowing exactly why or how it works. By keeping everyone in the dark on how he constructed the magnificent dome, I feel like he wanted that same feeling in the people who would go in the church and wonder about the world.

On the inside of the dome is a fantastic fresco painted by Giorgio Vasari initially and completed by Federico Zuccari. The fresco is a rendition of The Last Judgement.

Fresco inside Il Duomo

A look at the fresco on the inside of the dome. Because the fresco was done over many years and by different artists you can find differences in the style of some sections of the fresco. Photo taken from Wikipedia under public domain

The dome was the last structural part of the church to be completed, starting in 1420 and being completed in 1436, over one hundred years after the beginning of construction. There were many problems with constructing the dome, many of which are addressed in the above video. Many architects today consider Brunelleschi a genius for being able to devise methods to aid construction as well as figuring out how to even construct the dome, given the requirements.

Information taken from:

Mueller, Tom. "Il Duomo." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 1 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/02/il-duomo/mueller-text>.

Mueller, Tom. "Mystery of Florence's Cathedral Dome May Be Solved." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140210-duomo-florence-brunelleschi-cathedral-architecture/>.