Chapters 17 and 18 Summary

Chapter Seventeen describes the final piece to be designed and added to the dome, the lantern. Another competition is announced, and Filippo is assisted by Antonio di Ciaccheri Manetti, a 31-year-old carpenter, in the building of his model. Manetti betrays him, and creates his own model that contains aspects of Fiippo's design. Filippo's design still wins. Manetti becomes a new rival because he asks the judges if he may make yet another model, and the judges require Filippo to modify his design, based on Manetti's work. Unfortunately for Filippo, Manetti is the ultimate victor. After Filippo's death, Manetti bcomes the capomaestro overseeing the lantern's construction and complete the lantern with many of his own alterations.

Since the cathedral is in use, a competition is held to find a machine to build the lantern. Fillipo is granted the commission to build a...