MEDICI: THE MASTERS OF FLORENCE A SYNOPSYS PRODUCTION Italy - UK, 2016; Big Light Production, Lux Vide, Wild Bunch DIRECTOR Created by Frank Spotnitz and Nicholas Meyer, directed by Sergio MimicaGezzan STARRING Dustin Hoffman (Giovanni); Richard Madden (Cosimo); Stuart Martin (Lorenzo); Annabel Scholey (Contessina de Bardi); Alessandro Preziosi (Filippo Brunelleschi) Florence, 1429 Thanks to a contract stipulated with the Papacy twenty years before, Giovanni de Medici has transformed his family bank into an extraordinary economic force. But then, Giovanni is mysteriously murdered and his sons, Cosimo and Lorenzo, are forced to face a range of enemies plotting to banish the Medici from power and hinder Cosimo s project for the city, including his patronage of magnificent works of art and architecture. Cosimo must decide how far he is willing to go on preserving his vision of Florence, a vision we today know as the Renaissance. BEFORE VIEWING Answer the following questions. 1. Did you see any episodes of Medici, Masters of Florence on RAI 1 in autumn 2016? If you did, what do you remember about it/them? 2. Have you ever been to Florence? If so, what historical buildings did you visit? If not, have you seen any photos of these buildings? Which ones? 3. Are there any buildings in Renaissance style in the area where you live? What building is it? WHILE VIEWING Invited by Cosimo de Medici, a group of architects are trying to find out how to construct the dome of the Cathedral in Florence. They are proposing different and sometimes bizarre solutions when, unexpectedly, Filippo Brunelleschi arrives. He suggests a simple idea that raises scepticism and laughter in the other architects. But Cosimo trusts him and is willing to listen to his explanation. 1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 2 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Watch the video and choose the right option. T F According to Cosimo, Brunelleschi gives the architects a too simple explanation. Brunelleschi esteems his colleagues. Cosimo will pay for the dome construction. Cosimo has never been to Rome. The Pantheon is a very old building. Brunelleschi spent a lot of time in studying the Pantheon. Brunelleschi wants to build another Pantheon in Florence. Brunelleschi thinks of using scaffolding to build the dome. Watch the video again and answer the following questions. What kind of structure does Brunelleschi propose? What building materials does he think to use? In what kind of pattern should the bricks be laid? What architectural feature does Cosimo suggest being embedded in the dome itself? Why doesn t Brunelleschi know that the dome structure can hold? What kind of act will Cosimo s funding of Brunelleschi s project be? ONLINE RESOURCES After viewing activities HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE Module 8 293