Temple of Minerva, elevation of architrave (recto) Temple of Minerva, column shaft (verso)
early to mid-16th century
Medium
Dark brown ink, black chalk, and incised lines
Dimensions
sheet: 11 9/16 x 17 3/8 in. (29.3 x 44.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and Mark J. Millard Gift, 1968
Accession Number
68.769.33
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite double-sided drawing from early to mid-16th France captures the elegance of classical architecture through meticulous study. On the recto, it an elevation of the architrave from the Temple of Minerva (the Roman counterpart to Athena), showcasing the horizontal beam's decorative entablature with its rhythmic moldings and triglyphs. The verso a detailed column shaft, fluted surfaces and proportions inspired by ancient Roman precedents. Created by an anonymous French artist using dark brown ink for precise lines, black chalk for subtle shading, and incised lines for accurate tracin...