BRUNELLESCHI, broo-tel-16sh'e, Filippo di Ser Lappi, Italian architect: b. Florence 1377; d. same place, 15 April 1446. He first studied painting and sculpture, and brought the art of perspective to perfection; but as an architect he gained racist distinction, having, according to his countrymen, revived the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders. He invented vari ous ingenious mechanical contrivances. He applied himself particularly, however, to archi tecture, and learned the art of drawing to make his architectural plans, statuary to adorn them and mechanics that he might be able to raise the materials. He was also profoundly versed in mathematics and geometry. He is said to have drawn views of the finest monuments in Florence in perspective— an art which then excited much astonishment. This varied knowl edge prepared him for bold and difficult under takings, and he gained the name of the restorer of architecture. As a statuary he was much indebted to his intimate connection with Dona tello, who was then very young but very able. Both went to Rome. Here Brunelleschi con ceived the idea of restoring architecture to the principles of the Greeks and Romans in the hope of making the revived classic forms super sede the Gothic then in vogue. When the archi tects assembled, in 1407, at Florence to consult on the building of the dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria, the plan which Brunelleschi propoied received but little attention, and he went back to Rome.
It was necessary, however, to have recourse to him, as the undertaking far surpassed the powers of the other architects. He engaged to erect a dome which, by its own weight and by the strong connection of its parts, should hang suspended. This proposal seemed so wonderful that the author was regarded as insane. As all other plans, however, failed to answer the expectations of the magistrates, Brunelleschi was again recalled and ordered to explain the mode in which he intended to execute his plan. This he refused to do, but built two small chapels according to his new system. On this the charge of erecting the dome was committed to him. Aided only by his own genius, he ac complished the work, which remains one of the boldest creations of the human mind. But the ingenious lantern, which formed the upper part of the dome, was not finished when he died in 1444. It was completed, however, according to his first design. Few monuments of architec ture are so noble as this wonderful building. Only the dome of Saint Peter's in Rome, which was built since. excels it in height, but is in ferior to it in lightness and grandeur of style. Michelangelo said it was difficult to imitate Brunelleschi and impossible to excel him. Brunelleschi was the author of a great number of other masterpieces of architecture.