La cupola del Brunelleschi: La nascita avventurosa di un prodigio dell'architettura e del genio che lo ideò

Ross King tells the story of how the great dome of Florence Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, was built in the early fifteenth century. Filippo Brunelleschi, a goldsmith and clockmaker, won the commission to cover an enormous octagonal opening without the usual wooden scaffolding, and had to invent machines, such as an ox-driven hoist, and new construction methods. King describes his rivalry with the sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti, the work of the stonemasons and the city politics, and the mix of engineering problems and personal ambition that shaped the project.

It's for readers who like narrative history of art, architecture and engineering. Anyone planning a trip to Florence or curious about the Renaissance will come away understanding how the dome was achieved.

Outward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Evidence Seeker. Which reader are you?