Brunelleschi and the Moment of the Renaissance

A critical biography of the quietly inventive Renaissance architect.

Filippo Brunelleschi is at once the most famous and most misunderstood architect of the Renaissance. The founding architect of the movement that led the way to modernity, his originality was not expressed in words or theory but in the materials he used, the scenography of space he engineered, the ingenuity of his designs, the exquisite workmanship of his detailing, and the strikingly creative reworking of classical elements that make up his buildings. In this book, Marvin Trachtenberg offers a new view of Brunelleschi’s brilliant career as well as his life, guiding the reader through his most iconic works in Florence. In the process, this book sheds light on the competitive culture of Renaissance Italy. This is an original, lively account of a key Renaissance figure.

Marvin Trachtenberg is the Edith Kitzmiller Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. His books include Building-in-Time: From Giotto to Alberti and Modern Oblivion. He lives in Bellport, New York.