Chapters 5 and 6 Summary

Chapter Five begins with a review of Lorenzo Ghiberti's life since the competition for the bronze doors. He has been prosperous and married, in the Florentine tradition, a sixteen-year-old named Marsilia, who quickly gives birth to two children. Although he is still busy casting the bronze doors, he has also received other commissions. Lorenzo's simple and small model for the dome competition shows his lack of experience in architecture, but his might have been chosen because it does show a need for centuring, with which the judges feel more comfortable.

Although the competition has ended, no one has been awarded as the winner. This is due to a crack found in the cathedral, a need for a new capomaestro, and Pope Martin V arrives in Florence. During the lull, Filippo refines his model, receives four architectural commissions, and adopts a seven-year-old...