.. something so unique and miraculous that it changed our world forever. We call it the Renaissance, a rebirth of ancient art and learning.'



This story begins in the waning days of the 14th century, and tells the story of the competition between Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi to design and produce a new set of bronze doors for the Church of St John the Baptist (The Baptistery) in Florence. Ghiberti won this particular competition, but was largely eclipsed by Brunelleschi who went on to become the architect of the dome of Florence's cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore.



Mr Walker describes the competition between the two as personal and hence as a feud. I see it more as a conflict of ideas rather than purely as a personal feud. Brunelleschi is credited with inventing perspective and used this in his design of the dome. It was this modern approach to engineering that enabled Santa Maria del Fiore to be crowned with a dome of such magnificence and beauty that it has become one of the most enduring symbols of the Renaissance. It seems that Ghiberti, by contrast, created his beautiful work by drawing on the past.



I'm not entirely comfortable with Mr Walker's view of Brunelleschi and Ghiberti as sparking the Renaissance, attractive as it is to think of an artist and an architect ushering in this new age. I prefer to see the Bapistery doors and the Dome symbols of the Renaissance, rather than the catalyst for it.



I enjoyed reading this book: it added to my understanding of Florence during this period.



Jennifer Cameron-Smith

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