Construction site machinery

In 1420, Filippo Brunelleschi began what would become one of the most significant feats of the Italian Renaissance: the construction of the dome of Florence Cathedral.

The hoists and cranes he designed to lift and precisely position enormous weights—reaching nearly one hundred meters above the ground—had a profound influence on the young Leonardo and other artist-engineers of his time, such as Mariano di Iacopo, Francesco di Giorgio, Buonaccorso Ghiberti, and Giuliano da San Gallo. Thanks to them, the memory of these devices has been preserved in their notebooks, ensuring that these innovations—representing a crucial leap forward in construction machinery—would not be forgotten.

Leonardo’s experience at the construction site of Florence Cathedral is presented in the video on display in the room. The short film outlines the historical and artistic context in which this great endeavor took place: 15th-century Florence, where renowned artists such as Brunelleschi were engaged in creating grand works meant to celebrate the prestige of their patrons—often wealthy members of the so-called Arti, the guilds that played a vital role in the city’s extraordinary economic development.