67 – Pazzi Chapel. Basilica di Santa Croce. Florence, Italy Filippo Brunelleschi (architect). C. 1429-1461 C.E., Masonry (2 images) Video at Khan Academy Masterpiece of the Renaissance (architecture) Pazzi family – wealth second only to the Medici Function: o The main purpose of the building was as the cathedral chapter house (meeting room for the governing chapter) and use as a classroom for the teaching of monks and other religious purposes o There was also a chapel behind the altar where the commissioning family had the right to bury its dead Context: o The Pazzi's ulterior motive in building the chapel was probably to make their mark on the city of Florence and to emphasise their wealth and power o The fact that the city was at war with a neighboring city at the time and still acquired the funds to build this chapel showed the importance it had to the Pazzi family and the people of Florence Formerly considered a work of Filippo Brunelleschi, it is now thought that he was responsible for the plan, which is based on simple geometrical forms,[1] the square and the circle, but not for the building's execution and detailing o The main inspiration for this piece was the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria Novella, also located in Florence. The rondi of the seated Apostles are by Luca della Robbia, who also did the terracotta decorations in the cupola of the porch.[5] It has been suggested that the roundels of the Evangelists may have been the work of Donatello .