Pazzi Chapel at Basilica di Santa Croce
In 1429, Andrea Pazzi, the head of the Pazzi family, started to gather the money that would be needed to build the Pazzi chapel. The family was only second richest in Florence, Italy; the first being the Medici. There was a “Pazzi conspiracy” back in the late in the late 1400’s that made their relationship even more strained. The conspiracy was that the Pazzi family murdered Giuliano de’ Medici and tried to kill his brother, Lorenzo de’ Medici. Once the conspiracy was over the clan had to suffer not being allowed to serve in the government or help in more high religious festivals.
More about the Pazzi Chapel; it was built by Filippo Brunelleschi a famous architect. Filippo learned architecture from a goldsmith. His friend, Donatello, also learned architecture and sculpting from the same goldsmith. They went to Rome together and studied the ruins of Rome for learning how they built the buildings before they did. Coming back, Filippo was able to have more intelligence on how to build domes, chapels, and hospitals. His first work was the Ospedale degli Innocenti. He also did the architecture for the Barbadori chapel and the Pazzi chapel.
The site it was built on was in Florence, Italy. It also took about 23 years to build the chapel It was finalized in 1429, but it didn’t start building until 1441 and wasn’t finished until the early 1460’s. It was almost two decades after the death of Filippo that it was finished. Honoring him, there was no changes to the plans of the building so it was built how he had wanted it to be built.
The chapel was not only used for religious purposes, but also for a chapter house. A chapter house is a meeting place for the canons of the cathedral and for other religious meetings. The canons are the ones that will help and guide the bishop’s ruling. This chapel was also used for the teaching of monks. There was also a place, behind the altar, for the Pazzi family to bury their dead.
Another ulterior motive was put into light after this chapel was built. Many thought that it was only built so the Pazzi could make their mark on the Italian Renaissance and show off their wealth and power. It was later made known that the Pazzi family really didn’t have an ulterior motive but to help the people in their time of need. Though there had been a war between neighboring cities and themselves, the city still pulled together the funds to make the chapel. This shows how much they wanted the Pazzi chapel to be built!
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