Construction of the Basilica began in 1296 with sculptor and architect Arnolfo di Cambio at the helm. Arnolfo died in 1302 and work on the cathedral stalled. For the next hundred years the cathedral remained unfinished. However in 1418 the Arte della Lana held a structural design competition where the winner would be appointed the task of erecting the dome of the Basilica. Brunelleschi supported by Cosimo won the position with his ingenious design of the dome. The Duomo, today one of Florence’s biggest tourists attractions, is considered to be Cosimo’s paramount achievement as a patron. The massive dome can be seen throughout the city and the shadow that it casts over the city is comparable to the influence of the Medici in Florence. These are only a few of the immeasurably important pieces of art and architecture that Cosimo was responsible for. His patronage of artists allowed for the creation of some of histories most famous pieces. Without Cosimo’s passion there may never have been a David and a Duomo or a Da Vinci and Michelangelo. No other family has done more for the advancement of art than the Medici’s. They paved the way for the Renaissance and the cultural revolution that it brought. The Renaissance was the bridge that allowed man to cross from the Middle Ages into the modern era and it was made possible in large part by Cosimo and the artists he supported.
Construction of the Basilica began in 1296 with sculptor and architect Arnolfo di Cambio at the helm. Arnolfo died in 1302 and work on the cathedral stalled. For the next hundred years the cathedral remained unfinished. However in 1418 the Arte della Lana held a structural design competition where the winner would be appointed the task of erecting the dome of the Basilica. Brunelleschi supported by Cosimo won the position with his ingenious design of the dome. The Duomo, today one of Florence’s biggest tourists attractions, is considered to be Cosimo’s paramount achievement as a patron. The massive dome can be seen throughout the city and the shadow that it casts over the city is comparable to the influence of the Medici in Florence. These are only a few of the immeasurably important pieces of art and architecture that Cosimo was responsible for. His patronage of artists allowed for the creation of some of histories most famous pieces. Without Cosimo’s passion there may never have been a David and a Duomo or a Da Vinci and Michelangelo. No other family has done more for the advancement of art than the Medici’s. They paved the way for the Renaissance and the cultural revolution that it brought. The Renaissance was the bridge that allowed man to cross from the Middle Ages into the modern era and it was made possible in large part by Cosimo and the artists he supported.
Cosimo.docx