Chapter II: The Dome of Florence

Exhibits a wide departure from older dome constructions--Sources
of the architect’s inspiration--General character of earlier
domes--Remarkable construction of the dome of the Florentine
Baptistery--It probably supplied the chief inspiration to both
Arnolfo and Brunelleschi--Brunelleschi’s departures from the
Baptistery scheme--His structural system and his own account of
it--No Gothic character possible in a dome--The dome of Florence
a daring innovation--Its general dimensions--Brunelleschi’s
great ability as a constructor--His achievement of the work
without the usual centring--Consideration of the dome as a work
of art--The inherent weakness of its form--This not appreciated
by the early Italian writers--Precautions taken for its
stability--Signs of disintegration--Uncertainty as to its
duration--Opinions of the early Italian writers as to its
security--Structural integrity essential to good
architecture--No classic character in Brunelleschi’s
dome--Inferior character of the classic details of the lantern 10