Filippo Brunelleschi was born in 1377. The middle of three children, Brunelleschi grew up in a strong literary and mathematical education. His parents hoped he would become a civil servant, however, Pippo (as his friends called him) joined the Arte de Seta to become a master goldsmith in 1398.
In 1403, he lost a bronze door competition to Lorenzo Ghiberti, not because of his creativity, but because of his mastery of technical skill. It was also during this time that he and Donatello roamed and studied the ancient Roman ruins. In 1419, his first commission was to design and build the Foundling Hospital (the Ospeldale degli Innocenti). Its simplistic and candid architecture is impressive for a first commission. Soon after, he was commissioned to design the Cathedral of Florence and the Sagrestia Vecchia. The Santa Maria del Fiore had begun construction, but due to the lack of structural engineering, the dome was left unfinished, until 1419, when a competition was held to solve the problem. Meeting again, Brunelleschi and Ghiberti battled for a solution, and this time, Brunelleschi was the victor. This endeavor occupied the remaining days of Brunelleschi’s life.
He also explored other endeavors, such as hydraulics, clockworks and fortifications of military establishments, including a fortification of Lastra a Signa and the village walls of Staggia. His interests led him into a brief stint into ship making, which consisted of the ill-fated Il Badalone. During his life, he also explored the notion of linear perspective, in fact, using it to demonstrate the perspective of the Baptistry on an unfinished wall.
