Detail study for the façade of Milan cathedral
1700–1773
Medium
Pen and black ink over freehand graphite and compass and ruled construction lines in graphite
Dimensions
11-3/16 x 16-3/4 in. (28.4 x 42.5 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Donald Oenslager, 1965
Accession Number
65.536.5
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate drawing by Luigi Vanvitelli captures a detailed study for the façade of Milan Cathedral, one of Italy’s most iconic Gothic landmarks. Created during the artist’s lifetime (1700–1773), the work reflects the long, collaborative process of designing the cathedral’s exterior, which remained unfinished for centuries. As an architect and draftsman, Vanvitelli contributed to this ambitious project through precise preparatory studies that guided later construction phases. The medium—pen and black ink over freehand graphite with compass and ruled construction lines—reveals the technical ...
About the Artist
Luigi Vanvitelli · 1700–1773
Born 12 May 1700; died 1 March 1773. Famous for his design for the Royal Palace at Caserta, built 1751. Vanvitelli was active in Rome, Naples and nearby towns, also Brescia, Milan and Genoa. Comment on works: Portraits