Chapter 407 Cultural Prosperity

In the center of Ancella, the archbishop is holding a completion ceremony for the newly built church.

This new cathedral cost 100,000 lei and nearly 7 years to complete, and was built by architects hired from northern Italy. Now it seems that it is all worth it.

Brunelleschi is also very proud. This is his first work since he became an architect. The overall style adopts Orthodox and Romanian styles, and the interior is supported by pillars, making the space look spacious.

The Anatolian Church is very satisfied with this church. Brunelleschi has lived in the construction site for several years to complete his masterpiece. Fortunately, the government is powerful and the funds and raw materials are sufficient, which allowed him to build such a good work.

"Thanks to Brunelleschi's design drawings, contributing such a magnificent building to the church."

"No, I also want to thank the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor for giving us this opportunity."

Brunelleschi really wants to thank the Empire for giving him the opportunity. He participated in the competition to design a new bronze door for the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, but lost to a young goldsmith Lorenzo Ghiberti. It just so happened that Rome needed to rebuild the church in Anatolia, and a large number of architects went to the East. With such expectations, he came to Rome and won the project of building the cathedral in Ancyra with his design and his eloquence.

Now everyone is very satisfied, and his talent finally has a place to display. While thinking about whether he should go to Constantinople, Brunelleschi took a bottle of wine and went to his friend's house.

When Brunelleschi came to the other party's house, he saw that his friend was hammering on a stone in a messy studio, while hammering, he was also looking at the manuscript for comparison. The yard was full of stone waste.

"Filippo, forgive me for not going to the completion ceremony of the church today. I received a big order. The other party is willing to pay me 4,000 lei for his father's statue. Now time is very tight, I have to speed up the progress."

Brunelleschi can understand the other party's nervousness. He is a sculptor and understands that such orders are hard to come by. Artists also need to eat, and with these dignitaries investing in art, art can flourish, and their works can also be passed down through the ages.

"I understand you, Donatello. After all, you need a chance to prove yourself now, otherwise you wouldn't have come here from Florence."

"You are no less than that, but we are not the only ones here. It is said that there are many scattered all over Rome. Only one work is easily forgotten. We must have many works."

Donatello was only 22 years old at this time. Florence's economy was really screaming, and there were many opportunities in Rome, so they came to live in Ancyra. On the way, they also came to Athens and saw the Parthenon. Such a magnificent building naturally fascinated them. And they also listened to a group of people's speeches at the ruins of the theater and felt the charm of ancient Greek culture.

Brunelleschi and Donatello both wanted to visit the capital Constantinople, but their financial strength could not afford the expenses of the capital, so they could only save money first, or let the nobles see their strength and then bring them to the capital.

"There is a party tonight, do you want to go?"

Brunelleschi asked Donatello, and the other party thought about it and agreed.

Tonight is a literary salon sponsored by the local noble Count Mihalaki. The economic recovery of Anatolia has led to the local cultural revival, and a large number of artists have come here. Mainly from northern Italy.

Artists here can talk to each other about their own thoughts and experiences, and at the same time look for some interested sponsors. Only by attracting sponsors can they continue to create.

Brunelleschi is the earliest famous artist. His cathedral incorporates a lot of ancient Roman style and Romanian style, and finally this work was created. So he is the most dazzling person today.

Some later artists want to talk to their idols, and some nobles want him to design their official residences. His reputation has been established in the local area, and almost all orders want him to handle it.

Donatello just watched with envy. Of course, he also got the business of making several busts, but the most important thing is to handle that one well and not to damage the signboard.

"Hey, Filippo, you've become famous today. I went to see the church, it's so beautiful. Even the one in Florence isn't as beautiful as this one."

"You're praising me too much, Larus. We came here from our hometown Florence just to make our works known to the world, and now, I've finally finished part of it."

"Haha, when will I be able to do this? Recently, a businessman asked me to paint a portrait of his daughter, and that's all."

"Don't be discouraged, as long as you are patient, there will always be a day to get out."

The two talked about various information with other Florentines. Their group of Florentines is the fastest growing art school in Anatolia, including architecture, sculpture, and painting. Due to the large demand, they also receive the most sponsorship.

"Today Brunelleschi has been in the spotlight, although his works are indeed beautiful."

"It doesn't matter, as long as we persist, there will always be people who appreciate our works, or we can become minstrels."

The people who are talking here are all from France. They left their homes to come here to avoid a series of wars. They include small nobles, small landowners, merchants, and civilians. They have complex origins, but they are united by a common direction, which is literature.

Because they are located in Rome, they all write in Romanian. They are involved in prose, novels, and poems. Among them, sonnets are popular, so they are created in large quantities.

In addition to these two, there are artists from Aragon, Naples, Poland, and the Holy Roman Empire here. The local dignitaries also want to make their homes artistic, so they hire a large number of such people to create, so that they can also gain the favor of higher nobles in the future marriage.

What happened in Ansela is not an isolated case. In the Balkans, this cultural atmosphere is even stronger, and the capital Constantinople has become a cultural center. Art and literature from the East are also changing Roman culture, and the policy of tolerance towards specific religions has also allowed the other party's culture to merge with Roman culture. For the first time, the University of Constantinople added the Department of Art, which only recruits 30 people each year and is taught by the best artists themselves. This greatly promoted the development of Roman culture, mainly in literature and painting, while the original Renaissance Italy was severely damaged and could no longer exert its original influence.