Art and Architecture in Florentine Society

During the Renaissance, any Italian newcomer would have first introduced himself as the proud resident of a city-state. Florentines were especially adamant in their loyalty to their city and its emblems. Regardless of the internal vendettas between opposing family factions, Florence's citizens were able to coagulate and face down any threat to the general welfare, whether it was a neighboring power or a foreign invader. At the center of this determined city were three structures: the duomo, baptistry, and campanile. Their art and architecture allowed them to play important roles in Florence, both practical and spiritual.

The Florentine duomo has the distinction of being the fourth-largest cathedral in the world. It is very much a church of the people, sometimes seeming to be a monument more to the city than to God. Brunelleschi's famous dome, the first of its kind to be built in the modern world, can stand alone as a testament of Tuscan ingenuity. Other than the dome, the basilica's architecture lacks rounded corners or curves and is instead an imposing image of unwavering strength. On the other hand, the only softness on the exterior comes from flower-like images. In a symbolic twist, the designer may have used "flora" to represent his city's cultural revolution in the midst of the staid Middle Ages. This theme is continued in the unusual coloration of the duomo's marble façade. White, green, and pink allude to the blossoms of spring and represent the cardinal virtues of faith, hope, and charity.