Waiting for Filippo: The Life of Renaissance Architect Filippo Brunelleschi- A Pop-Up Book

Tells the story of the Renaissance architect, noted for his work on the famous dome of the Cathedral of Florence

Grade 5-8?Filippo Brunelleschi, goldsmith, sculptor, architect, was one of the most influential Renaissance artists in the 15th century. His work in perspective, his knowledge of fortifications and theatrical devices, and, most importantly, his skill in constructing the famous dome of the Cathedral of Florence assure him a place in the history of art and architecture. In Bender's handsomely designed book, Filippo's story is well told and cleverly illustrated with elaborate three-dimensional "pop-up" constructions. The clearly written, well-researched text, with a map of Florence and detailed drawings explaining how the Duomo was constructed, would recommend the use of the book in schools and libraries. However, as with the moveable pictures in Alice & Martin Provensen's Leonardo Da Vinci (Viking, 1984), the fragile quality of paper-engineered illustrations limits the wide use of these eye-catching books. The solution might be to purchase the book for display, where it will supplement and highlight Anne Rockwell's Filippo's Dome (Atheneum, 1967; o.p.), which is colorfully written but visually bland and which, while it tells essentially the same story, may be languishing on the biography shelves.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The architect Filippo Brunelleschi and his influence on Renaissance Florence are the twin subjects of this highly specialized pop-up book. Bender's informative text elaborates on aspects of design and architecture while placing Brunelleschi in historical context, detailing the artist's work on the Duomo of Florence, Santo Spirito, the Pazzi Chapel and other brilliant achievements. Illustrations dominated by terracotta have a Florentine air to them, but the flaps and pop-ups are a disappointment, deployed without much imagination. Seeing a 3D picture of the loggia of the Foundling Hospital or of people strolling past the Duomo does little to enhance a reader's appreciation for those works. Bender's egregious use of paper-engineering seems ironic indeed considering his salute to Brunelleschi for developing a theory of perspective "by which an artist creates the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface." Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.