The Feud That Sparked the Renaissance: How Brunelleschi and Ghiberti Changed the Art World

by Paul Robert Walker, Simon Vance (Reading)

Joining the bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, a lively and intriguing tale of two artists whose competitive spirit brought to life one of the world's most magnificent structures and ignited the Renaissance

The dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore, the great cathedral of Florence, is among the most enduring symbols of the Renaissance, an equal to the works of Leonardo and Michelangelo. Its designer was Filippo Brunelleschi, a temperamental architect and inventor who rediscovered the techniques of mathematical perspective. Yet the completion of the dome was not Brunelleschi's glory alone. He was forced to share the commission with his archrival, the canny and gifted sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti.

In this lush, imaginative history--a fascinating true story of artistic genius and personal triumph--Paul Robert Walker breathes life into these two talented, passionate artists and the competitive drive that united and dived them. As it illuminates fascinating individuals from Donatello and Masaccio to Cosimo de'Medici and Leon Battista Alberti, The Feud That Sparked the Renaissance offers a glorious tour of 15th-century Florence, a bustling city on the verge of greatness in a time of flourishing creativity, rivalry, and genius.

Genres: History, Art, Nonfiction, Italy, Art History, Architecture, Biography

Audio CD

First published November 26, 2002

About the author

I was born in Oak Park, Illinois—just like Ernest Hemingway, only later.

I’ve been saying this in biographies for a long time, and it sounds pretty good. Ernest Hemingway is big stuff, and how many authors are born in Oak Park, Illinois?

Yet recently I was taken to task during a visit to the Fresno area, where two—count them two—separate individuals pinned me down with grueling interrogations involving specific details, places, and people in Oak Park, Illinois. I admitted to them as I admit to you on the World Wide Web: I know absolutely nothing about Oak Park, Illinois.

I was born in Oak Park Hospital, but we lived in a neighboring town called River Grove. And we moved from there when I was a year and a half. I take my literary connections where I find them.

We moved a lot in my early years, four times before I turned eleven, for a total of five places, all in the Chicago area. My Dad died in place number four, which was a townhouse in south Chicago, across the street from the Chicago Skyway, now Interstate 90. I counted trucks on the Skyway when we first moved in, but I stopped counting trucks when my father died.

I was nine, and it was November 1962, a year before the JFK assassination changed America forever. I still associate my father’s death with the death of JFK, and throw the Cuban missile crisis into the mix. It was a pivotal time for me, for my generation, and for our nation—an end to innocence and the beginning of an exciting yet challenging era of social turmoil.

My mother moved us to Evanston, a tree-shaded suburb just north of Chicago, where she got a job as a 3rd grade teacher. She later found a new career as an adjustment teacher (similar to a school counselor) in the Chicago schools. I grew up surrounded by teachers, who discussed education until they were blue in the face—which didn't turn me blue personally, but did make me believe that education was pretty important.

Evanston was a cultured place, home of Northwestern University, and I got my first taste of theater as an 8th grade extra in a Northwestern production of Don Quixote starring Peter Strauss, who later went on to mini-series stardom in Rich Man, Poor Man. On the closing night, Peter was so sick he couldn’t perform, so his understudy stepped into the starring role, with the understudy’s understudy stepping in for him and on down the line until I rose from the ranks of faceless extras and took the demanding role of Second Mule Skinner—which meant I got to mumble something like, “Move on, there!” I was hooked.

I continued acting, started singing, and had my first short story published at Evanston Township High School, which at that time was rated the number one public high school in America (by whomever rates these things.) I studied acting for a year at Boston University School of Fine Arts, and when I decided that I wanted a broader education, I transferred to Occidental College in Los Angeles, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. in Anglo-American literature. Just before graduation, I won third place in a short story contest and received a check for the whopping amount of $20. It was the first time I was ever paid for my writing and it felt good.

After college, I taught English for six years at a Chassidic Yeshiva in West Hollywood, while playing in a rock band and writing for an alternative weekly newspaper. I started writing for the newspaper after I won a story contest with a tall tale about a guy who loses his triplex on the beach during a game of darts with the devil. It was called "Darts with Mr. D," and the paper presented me with a princely check for $100—a 500% increase over my college contest award. Not only that, they asked me to keep writing for them, only—get this—they wanted actual journalism! I did what I could and had lots of fun doing it.

I got my big break when I answered an ad in the Los Angeles Times that said, “Writers Wanted.” I thought it was some weird scam but decided t

Reviews

[Jo Walton]

This is a fun readable book about Brunelleschi and Ghiberti that doesn't assume the reader has any prior knowledge at all, but assumes that the reader isn't an idiot. It explains without talking down, an excellent thing. If you are interested in architecture, and perspective, or the lives of artists, or what a golden age is, read this. I'd recommend this to anyone.

I read it in Florence, which was perfect, because I could keep going to look at things. I utterly disagree with some of Walker's aesthetic judgements, but that isn't the slightest bit a problem.

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fued that sparked the Renaissance is a solidly written, exquisitely researched book about a pivotal point in the history of Florence, Italy which can be seen as the original seed from which the Renaissance grew.

The primary focus of the book is the point in time in which two young Florentine artists developed: Filippo Brunelleschi became the person to 'rediscover' the ancient European techniques of mathematical perspective in art, the perspectives that first started to bring the art of the Renaissance to life in painting and sculpture. Despite this amazing legacy there are no existing paintings (that I know of) from Brunelleschi, his later life was devoted to architecture, the most famous example being designing and constructing the great dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral.

The second artist he book focuses on is Lorenzo Ghiberti, who won a competition to design a set of bronze doors for a church, he won against Brunelleschi and spent the next fifty years making these doors and the whole of his career associated with them. He also was an artistic trend setter in several other ways.

These two major players also were masters or associates for the better known names (such as Donatello) who became better known as part of the renaissance and these are the two players in this alleged 'Feud'. However, I do feel that a better title might have been 'The feud that may or may not have existed with no evidence either way' or maybe the subtitle 'How Brunelleschi and Ghiberti changed the art world'. Maybe that was the original title and the publishers wanted something with more pizaz.

This is an exceedingly well written book, formidably well researched narrative full of historical factual detail and meticulous descriptions of architecture. It took me a long time to read because I am not terribly conversant with Italian history or with architecture and I had to read it carefully to get the information straight in my head. I certainly know way more about the origins of the Renaissance that before.

[Mary Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It feels like Walker decided to use everything he found in his research, rather than do some trimming that would have made the narrative a bit less meandering. This meandering and the overall style undermine "the feud" aspect; especially since it felt like there were "oh, wait, I need to mention the feud!" moments. As some of the other reviewers mention, it does read a bit like a weaker version of Brunellesci's Dome, which I found the more interesting read overall.

[Sophie (RedheadReading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it just me who felt the author massively preferred Brunelleschi? lmao. I did feel like the "fued" aspect wasn't super clear aside from the initial competition but I did really enjoy getting to know both artists better, understanding their influence more and dabbling in some fun art history.

[Claire]

It was an interesting historical saga, but the guy's writing leaves a little to be desired. Every piece of art was "bold" or "daring", and I just don't see it. Also, I'm still confused by his construction descriptions of the Duomo -- and I'm a civil engineer...

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Something happened in Florence six hundred years ago, something so unique and miraculous that it changed our world forever. We call it the Renaissance, a rebirth of ancient art and learning.’

This story begins in the waning days of the 14th century, and tells the story of the competition between Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi to design and produce a new set of bronze doors for the Church of St John the Baptist (The Baptistery) in Florence. Ghiberti won this particular competition, but was largely eclipsed by Brunelleschi who went on to become the architect of the dome of Florence’s cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore.

Mr Walker describes the competition between the two as personal and hence as a feud. I see it more as a conflict of ideas rather than purely as a personal feud. Brunelleschi is credited with inventing perspective and used this in his design of the dome. It was this modern approach to engineering that enabled Santa Maria del Fiore to be crowned with a dome of such magnificence and beauty that it has become one of the most enduring symbols of the Renaissance. It seems that Ghiberti, by contrast, created his beautiful work by drawing on the past.

I’m not entirely comfortable with Mr Walker’s view of Brunelleschi and Ghiberti as sparking the Renaissance, attractive as it is to think of an artist and an architect ushering in this new age. I prefer to see the Bapistery doors and the Dome symbols of the Renaissance, rather than the catalyst for it.

I enjoyed reading this book: it added to my understanding of Florence during this period.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti were Italian artists in the early 1400s. They were rivals, they competed for the same jobs, and sometimes they worked together. Their art marks the beginning of the Renaissance. The Feud That Sparked the Renaissance was often textbooky and I occasionally found my eyes to be glazing over as I read. But I learned so incredibly much. I’ve never been particularly into art so so much of it was new to me. I recommend reading this book to anyone interested in art and the early Renaissance.

[Hannah Trower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, very readable book on the early Quattrocento that works both with and without prior knowledge on the topic. Particularly good on the lives of artists as real people with personalities, especially clashing personalities, with some touching slice of life details, fun anecdotes, and moments of tax fraud! I disagree with a lot of his aesthetic sensibilities and artistic assessments, but you know what, that's alright.

[Belles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping this would be more about artistic techniques and less about war, politics and religion.

[Sam Fraulino · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing account of the art and history in Florence. Having recently traveled to Italy, this was a great addition to my experiences of the rich history that I was lucky enough to see in person

[Dreepa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book.
The very premise that there was a 'feud' .. well he never wrote about it beyond the fact that one artist lost one commission. Hardly a feud.
I did like learning the history from the early Renaissance a period I do know know much about.

Also the story was very choppy .. didn't really follow just one artist... it was vaguely chronological but... just needed some more editing

I will look into this period of history more though.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book drags at many point, but is interesting where he gets into the meat of Brunelleschi's work. Not sure there was an actual feud. Seems more like competition where commissions were at times hard to obtain. Wondering where the notes are for the author's thoughts. If this is non- fiction they are missing.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling story, but the author seems to have fallen in love with every fact he came across making for slog at times.

[Ramesh Naidu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent book , makes me want to drop everything and visit Florence to see all the works that these great men created. The narrative reads like a gripping novel . I cannot recommend it enough

[Joe Kraus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had me at the title. I realized I didn’t know that much about either Bruneschelli or Ghiberti, and that seemed a problem for someone who wants to know as much about the Renaissance as possible. If a feud set much of early modern thought in motion, I wanted to know about it.

When I hear “feud” in that context, I think of something rooted in aesthetics or philosophy. I imagine two great minds at odds with each other, each championing a way of thinking about the world that gets sharpened in opposition to the other. We have that in Judaism with the famous showdown between Hillel and Shammai at the dawn of the rabbinic era, and it foreshadows the experience of ‘pilpul,’ of learning with another who can push you through perpetual challenge.

As I read this, though, the feud between men is much pettier than anything of that order. In fact, it’s often not a feud at all. The two men initially compete for a commission to create the chapel doors that we know today as “the gates of paradise” that Ghiberti managed. Later, they sort of compete for the commission to build the dome for the almost-completed Cathedral of Florence, which Bruneschelli masterfully completes.

But, otherwise, the two men seem to have worked, if not harmoniously, at least comfortably at the same time and in the same city.

They don’t seem to disagree about any major philosophy, or, if they do, Walker gets at it from too fuzzy a point. Instead, we get detail about their various estates, the children and apprentices they brought into their service, and their ambitions to be thought of as great artists.

I’m impressed at the erudition here. Walker clearly knows the material, and, when he sets out to describe what makes the doors or the dome so spectacular, he’s on.

But I have to say I’m disappointed at what is – and I use the word ironically here – the architecture of the book. As promising as it sounds, the ‘feud’ between the two men doesn’t provide the narrative balance I’d hope for.

Walker has my sympathy since I’ve sketched out histories that don’t fit in the conceit I’ve planned for them. I have learned some things from this one, but I don’t find in it the difference of opinion that might have ‘sparked’ so dramatic a change in the way we humans pursue our collective art.

[Paul Friedrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tend to prefer a more academic register with my history books, so I'll be the first to admit that this book might only get four stars because of my personal biases.

For what it's trying to do, it tells a story extremely well. He's obviously read his Vasari and yet does a good job of checking him. Probably the best use of Vasari as a source I've ever seen from a non-academic. There were a few things that probably needed sources (his claims about Florentine views on homosexuality for example) that probably could have used a source, but none of them got in the way of the main point of the book.

Overall, flowingly written, never felt like it was filling for space, and pretty good historiography to boot.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected to enjoy this book, and I did. I always enjoy histories like this. Still, I didn’t quite enjoy it as much as I was thinking I would when I picked it up.

The two masters whose “feud” drives this narrative, the brilliant Filippo Brunelleschi and his rival Lorenzo Ghiberti were definitely giants of the early Renaissance, but they came across is rather distant. Perhaps there wasn’t any helping that, since they didn’t keep diaries or anything like that, so what we know is limited. Their art speaks loudly, and we do have that. The book spends a lot of time on it, so much time that it makes me wonder if I would have been just as well off browsing pictures.

Oh well. This was a pretty decent history.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. I occasionally wished I had read it instead of listened since I would have loved to see the items, artwork, buildings, and detailed components that were being described. Since I tend to listen while doing other things like driving or chores, I don’t have the opportunity to pause and look it up, so I had to remember a whole panoply of references to look up later. I don’t know if the hard copy includes illustrations and figures, but even having the chance to put the book down to go google something would mean I missed less. I also wish I had read this before our recent trip to Florence as I would have sought out so many more of the locations to see (I did visit the cupola and baptistery). Good reason to go back.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this book is a heavy dose of nostalgia that threw me back to the mid-1960s when I declared Art History as my undergraduate major. One reason for that was a wonderful survey course in the Renaissance—painting, sculpture, and architecture. The dominant artists herein are Filippo Brunelleschi, Lorenzo Ghilberti, and (to a lesser extent) Donatello. The first two were bitter lifetime rivals in the Florentine art world, repeatedly competing for lucrative commissions on a variety of public works projects. The last often went his own way, avoiding that clash of personalities. I enjoyed this “walk down memory lane” a lot and recommend it highly to fans of the Quattrocento.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had already read Brunelleschi's Dome, so this book mostly just reinforced the things I learned in that book. That said, this one gave more insight into his weird personality (the elaborate prank on Manetto the fat, making him think he had traded bodies with Matteo, another local man). There's a very long section toward the end on the taxes paid by several local artists that I could have done without, and I think that overall, Brunelleschi's Dome is the superior book, but I still enjoyed this.

[Brandi Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this one. I didn’t dislike it, but nor did I find it particularly engaging. The title feels slightly like “click bait” and the whole “feud” is pretty loose. It does have a lot of interesting history about the beginning of the renaissance... but, it’s not a major page turner and nor does it encourage you to read more about any of the subjects.

[Terra Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walker's narrative of the intertwining lives of Brunelleschi and Ghiberti is certainly entertaining, and the book is very well written. In a book of this size it would be impossible to include the type of contextualizing and nuanced analysis that I so desperately was waiting for. A pleasant read, but fails to give what it promises: the "spark".

[Robert Poortinga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I have issues with the writing style. For me it didn't stand up to the gravity of the topic. I also think that using first names for those big artists makes it a bit funny and the way it's written makes it hard for me to read. It might be me; but that's my observation.

nice topic though...

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitely a competent book, and i learned some things, though it was too dry and too close to what i already knew for me to enjoy it substantially; hopefully will be useful during my florence extravaganza. what i appreciated the most was the bombshell lore drop which is that brunelleschi and donatello most likely explored each other's bodies

[Meghana · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I feel as if I was there and I gained a lot of knowledge on the artists’ work. The book was written very well and had a nice flow to it. It’s definitely a book I would recommend reading.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King and several other works on the Medici, I was recently familiar with the subject of this book before I opened it. But I was not prepared for the depth and balance that this book gives, not only to Brunelleschi himself, but also to Donatello and Ghiberti.

[Nam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title lead me to believe there would be more conflicts and grand personalities of the era, instead the narrative was pretty flat, there were many related details, but not much depth about the feud

[Ameya Warde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually quite interesting! For a look into the Florence of the time as much as the people and art.

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh...this was like reading an academic dissertation. Nothing against dissertations, but that's just not the kind of read that I wanted. DNF audiobook.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched, but a bit long in the tooth and the title is total clickbait.