Cathedral of Florence Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
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The
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was completed
in 1434 and is the most important landmark in Florence,
as well as being the fourth largest church in the world.
The typical Italian Gothic building,
the Cathedral of Florence, is dedicated to "Santa
Maria del Fiore". The church was designed by
Arnolfo di Cambio (c1245-1302) who considerably enlarged
the existing religious structure. Finished around
1367, the Cathedral was completely covered by coloured
marbles like the earlier Baptistery, except for the
façade that remained unfinished and was terminated
only in the 19th century.
The project left unfinished also the Dome, since in
1421 only the frame (polygonal base) had been erected.
Two architects, Lorenzo Ghiberti (1368-1445) and Filippo
Brunelleschi (1377-1446) won the competition although
it was the latter who actually built the dome, showing
a great mastery of technical knowledge, in 1436.
One of the most remarkable features of the outside
of the building is the socalled "Porta della
Mandorla"(north) (della mandorla = almond)
that was given this name because of the large aureole
around the figure of the Virgin sculptured also by
Nanni di Banco (1380/90-1421) among others.
Its interior preserves very important works of art:
on the left side we find the first two detached frescoes
showing the "Condottiero Giovanni Acuto"and
"Niccolò da Tolentino" painted respectively
by Paolo Uccello in 1436 and by Andrea del Castagno
in 1456. Paolo Uccello also frescoed the clock on
the inside wall, showing four vogorous "heads
of saints".
The
many sculptures made specifically
for the cathedral (many
of which have now been
moved to the "Museo dell´Opera del Duomo"), comprise
also the "Lunettes" by Luca della
Robbia above the doors of the Mass Sacristies. The
large "Pietà" by Michelangelo (c.
1553) has instead been removed and transferred to
the "Museo dell´Opera del Duomo".
Most
of the splendid stained
glass windows were made
between 1434 and 1455
to the designs of famous
artists like Donatello,
Andrea del Castagno and
Paolo Uccello. The wooden
inlays on the Sacristy´s cupboards were
designed by Brunelleschi and other artists, including
Antonio del Pollaiolo.
The
internal walls of the
dome, which have recently
been restored, were frescoed
between 1572 and 1579
by Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574)
and Federico Zuccari
(c. 1990-1609) who represented
a large scene of the
"Final Judgement".
The
bell tower by Giotto
remains, together with
the huge dome one of
the most striking views
of the town. The famous
painter, Giotto, was
in fact also the architect
of the project for the
bell tower, although
by the time of his death
(1337) only the lower
part had been completed.
The works continued under
the direction of Andrea
Pisano (c. 1290-1349)
and Francesco Talenti
(not. 1325-1369) who
completed the project.
THE RELIEFS OF THE LOWER ROW OF THE CAMPANILE
BY GIOTTO AND ANDREA PISANO
The
reliefs in the lower
row of the campanile,
depict the creation
of man and woman,
the beginnings of
human work, and the "inventors
(according to the
Bible) of various
creative activities:
sheep-herding, music,
metallurgy, wine-making.
In the upper register
are the seven planets,
beginning with Jupiter
at the north corner.
On the other facades,
in the lower registerwe
find astrology, building,
medicine, weaving
and other technical
and scientific endeavors.
In the upper registers
are: on the south,
the theological
and cardinal virtues;
on the east, the
liberal arts of the
Trivium and Quadrivium;
to the north, the
seven sacraments.
The statues in the
niches represent the
patriarchs, prophets
and kings of Israel,
and pagan sybils.
Facade
of the Cathedral
1880 - 1888
Giotto's
bell tower
1334 - 1359
Porta della Mandorla
On the north side of the Cathedral, on which numerous artists collabored in the
early decades of the 15th century, among them Donatello, Nanni di Banco
and Jacopo della Quercia
The nave
1378 - 1421
The
dome
Giotto's
bell tower
Brunelleschi used more than 4 million bricks
in the construction of the dome.
The
lantern 1446 - c. 1461
Internal scaffold for the construction of the dome
The crane invented by Brunelleschi
Cathedral
landscape
The lantern by Brunelleschi and Michelozzo
South
side of
the Cathedral
Porta
della Mandorla
on the
north side of
the Cathedral
Porta della Mandorla
Almond by Nanni di Banco
Porta della Mandorla
Lunette by Jacopo della Quercia
Altar
Nave
Nave
Floor
Mosaic on the left door by Nicolò Barabino
Florentine artisans, merchants and humanists
paying homage to the Faith
Fresco
on the left wall by Domenico di Michelino
Dante and the
Three Kingdoms
The painting was made in 1465 to commemorate
Dante's 200th birthday. It dipicts
scenes of Dantes Divine Comedy: the
hell, the mountain of purgatory and
the earthly paradise with Adam and
Eve.
Above the main door is the colossal clock face with
fresco portraits of four Prophets or Evangelists by Paolo Uccello (1443).
This liturgical clock shows the 24 hours of the hora italica (ltalian time),
a period of time ending with sunset at 24 hours. This timetable was
used till
the 18th century. This is one of the few clocks from that time,
that still exist
and are in working order.
Inside the cupola: 3600 m2 of frescoes,
created by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari,
who worked there from 1572 to 1579.
The restoration of these ceiling frescoes began
in 1978 and was completed in 1994.
Andrea del Castagno
Nicolò da Tolentino
The winner in 1432 over the troops
of the arch-rival Siena (fresco)
Paolo Uccello
Sir John Hawkwood, an English Mercenary
Commander-in-chief of the army of Florence in the
war at the end of the 14th century against the expansion
of Gian Galeazzo Visconti
of Milan (fresco)
Stained Glassis
Lamb with crossed flag symbol of the
Guild of wool merchants (Arte dellla Lana)
The Arte della Lana was the wool guild
of Florence during the late Middle Ages and in the Renaissance.
Was nominally responsible for the building and decoration
of the most important edifice in the city, namely the Cathedral.
On
the right side of the square:
Brunelleschi is still looking up at
his work.
Statue by Luigi Pampaloni - 1830
When
Brunelleschi proposed to build the
dome, people thought he was crazy and
visionary. Nobody at that time (1436)
thought it was possible that one could
build such a large dome. To convince
the Florentines Brunelleschi designed
a model on the piazza in the same scale
of the later dome. With this
work, he became one of the greatest
architects of all time.
The
reliefs of the lower row of the Campanile
by Giotto and Andrea Pisano Now in the Cathedral Museum
