Classes for this summer and next school year are now up! Take a gander and see if anything looks interesting. We don’t care if you’re an art major or not!
Born in Florence during the Italian renaissance, Brunelleschi began his journey as a goldsmith and sculptor. In 1401, he competed against five other artists for a prestigious commission: the bronze doors of the Florence baptistry. After making it to the final two, Brunelleschi lost to his arch nemesis, Ghiberti.
Enraged and dismayed, Brunelleschi then travelled to Rome with his friend and fellow artist, Donatello, to study the buildings of antiquity. There he discovered a love and talent.
Later, he returned to Florence and won the competition to construct the dome for Florence’s cathedral, the result of which would become one of his most notable accomplishments.
His other major accomplishment was born out of his study of architecture, but became a revolutionizing tool for artists of all mediums. Brunelleschi created a mathematical grid that allowed painters and other masters to create realistic representations of reality.
His understanding of architecture and perspective allowed artists to create paintings and spaces more incredible than ever.
If you’d like to read more, here are some links: