San Lorenzo, Library, Ricetto, entry portal from library, elevation (recto) San Lorenzo, Library, Ricetto, entry portal from library, plan and section (verso)
early to mid-16th century
Medium
Dark brown ink, black chalk, and incised lines
Dimensions
sheet: 17 3/16 x 11 5/8 in. (43.7 x 29.6 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Janos Scholz and Anne Bigelow Scholz, in memory of Flying Officer Walter Bigelow Rosen, RCAF, 1949
Accession Number
49.92.32
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite architectural drawing captures the entry portal from the library to Ricetto (vestib) of the Laurentian Library at San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy—a masterpiece designed by Michelangelo in the 1520s. Created anonymously by a French artist in the early mid-16th century the recto features a precise elevation of the portal, while the verso reveals a plan and section. Such dual-sided sheets were invaluable tools for architects, allowing detailed study and replication of innovative designs. Executed in dark brown ink, black chalk, and incised lines on a modest 17 3/16 x 11 5/8-inch sh...