Building Heaven’s Ceiling: A Novel Based on the Life of Filippo Brunelleschi

One of the founding fathers of the Renaissance, Filippo Brunelleschi was more than an Italian designer.  Brunelleschi made his mark in architecture and construction.

In his early years, sculpting was Brunelleschi’s passion.  But after being passed over for a major commission, he set his sights on architecture, and changed the landscape of Italy as it is known today.

Brunelleschi’s most prominent contribution, the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, was the first of its kind, paving the way for bigger and more elaborate domes to come.  His invention of machines to facilitate the construction of the dome allowed future structures to not only be imagined, but to be erected as well.

With his imagination, understanding of linear perspective, focus on geometric principles, and intellect for mathematics, Brunelleschi influenced the rise of modern science and architecture worldwide.

About the Author

Originally from Georgia, Joe Cline majored in anthropology and minored in history at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. After working on his master’s degree in biological anthropology at Georgia State, he ventured westward to California for more graduate school at Pepperdine University and received his master’s degree in fine arts in screenwriting for television and film. His interests include writing, lots of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, history, evolutionary theory, primatology, coffee and his fabled battle cat of lore, Monkeycat.