Recto: On Timber, the Species of Trees (Vitruvius, Book 2, Chapter 9, no. 4); Verso: On Timber, the Battle of Larignium (Vitruvius, Book 2, Chapter 9, no. 15)..

Art Historical Context

This intriguing double-sided drawing, created by members of the Sangallo family between 1530 and 1545, offers a direct window into the Renaissance revival of classical architectural knowledge. It illustrates two passages from Vitruvius’s influential first-century BCE treatise *De Architectura*, specifically Book 2, Chapter 9. The recto examines the species of trees best suited for timber, while the verso depicts the Battle of Larignium, both serving as practical lessons on wood selection and its structural uses. Executed in pen and dark brown ink on a modest sheet measuring roughly 5 7/8 by 10 3/8 inches, the work belongs to the Metropolitan Museum’s holdings in drawings and prints under ornament and architecture. The Sangallo family—prominent Florentine architects—produced such studies to translate ancient Roman advice into contemporary building practice. By focusing on trees and their properties, the drawing underscores how Renaissance practitioners valued material knowledge as essential to durable design. Its presence in a museum collection highlights the enduring cultural importance of Vitruvius’s text, which shaped Western architecture for centuries. The careful line work invites viewers to appreciate both the scientific observation of nature and the strategic thinking behind historical construction methods.