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The Feud That Sparked the Renaissance: How Brunelleschi and Ghiberti Changed the Art World Audiobook
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(3.05) - 118 listener ratings
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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.
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"An entertaining and compelling read that gives the history of the beginning or the Renaissance from the perspective of the lives of the amazing individuals individuals involved, that brings the subject matter to a more real feel than any other book I've read on the subject."
— Jim (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Walker re-creates the intrigues of fifteenth-century Florence…Using an estimable cache of documentary materials and a supporting cast that includes the sculptor Donatello and the painter Masaccio…Recommended for public libraries and young adult collections.”
— Library Journal -
“A convincing account of one of the defining moments in art and history.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“[Simon Vance] delivers the story with panache and aplomb.”
— AudioFile -
“Drawing on a wealth of original source material and contemporary biographies, this engaging account introduces readers to rivals Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti…He makes note of past events that impacted Florentine life of the day, such as the plague, the Great Schism, and the Guelf/Ghibelline struggle. Use of anecdotes, particularly the tale of an elaborate practical joke, shows the human side of these masters.”
— School Library Journal -
Walker…contends that while fighting for architectural and sculptural commissions and fuming at one another, the two artists brought out the best in each other, their peers, and subsequent generations.”
— Publishers Weekly
The Feud That Sparked the Renaissance Listener Reviews
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" More a biography of Brunelleschi than a story of a feud between artists. Also, the notion of a fued between these two mostly is in the author's mind, withe the author clearly favoring Brunelleschi. That said, it was interesting and informative and written well. "
— David, 8/28/2013 -
" I thought this book was great before I went to Florence. Then I reread it and got so much more out of it!! "
— Caulyne, 5/10/2013 -
" I am surprised how boring this book was. If I were to choose a new field to study for fun, it would be history, and yet I found few interesting parts of this book. "
— William, 2/22/2013 -
" Occasionally a bit too detailed, nevertheless a great intro to the men who began the Italian Renaissance. "
— Jeff, 10/24/2012 -
" I learned a lot, but it can be very "in the weeds." I love esoteric, in-depth history, but this got a little too into the details even for me. On the other hand, I knew almost nothing about art history before, and now feel like I have at least a basic grasp on this period. "
— Blair, 9/23/2012 -
" Compelling story, but the author seems to have fallen in love with every fact he came across making for slog at times. "
— Carrie, 9/7/2012 -
" Dry but interesting. There's a reason I have an art history minor. "
— Laura, 6/26/2012 -
" Inspiring. A must for all who love the Art of Science or the Science of Art or simply the hazy idea thereof. "
— Rebecca, 10/28/2011 -
" Fascinating account of the feud between Brunellesci (same as in Brunelleschi's Dome) and its consequences: Brunelleschi's revolutionizing painting and architecture, helping add to the gathering wave of the Renaissance. "
— Sandra, 6/24/2011 -
" This was a follow up to Brunellechi's Dome, but I liked the original better, although this dealt with some additional historical bits, so it was worth it. "
— Glen, 4/29/2011
About Paul Robert Walker
Paul Robert Walker has written twenty books on subjects ranging from the Italian Renaissance and the American West to folklore, baseball, and miracles. He is a former teacher and journalist.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.