Description

This drawing was assembled from three separate sheets of paper. On the front — or recto — two horizontal overlapping seams betray where they are glued together. The two lower sheets measure about 17 by 21 inches each. Across the top, a narrow three-inch strip completes the support. Since the drawing was trimmed — this is particularly evident along the right edge, where some of the architecture has been cut away — the original support must have been slightly larger all around.

The architectural image, a large perspective view of a two-story palace façade, was executed in dark brown ink with straight edge and compass.

A quill pen was used to fill in freehand decorative details such as column bases and capitals. The receding parallel lines of the perspective were laid down to a vanishing point located in the central projecting archway. A few short incised lines were employed as guidelines. As a whole the drawing was surely conceived and developed in earlier preparatory sketches, but because it lacks a horizon line, highlights, shadows, figures, or other naturalistic features, it looks unfinished.

Soon after the drawing was made, an inscription was added to the post of the balustrade in the foreground. It reads: "Baldasar da Siena fe[cit] (Balthazar from Siena made this)." This is not a signature — Peruzzi was not in the habit of autographing his drawings and the handwriting is not his — but the script and the omission of Peruzzi’s family name follow sixteenth-century conventions. The caption undoubtedly came from an early owner. Early inscriptions on the MIT drawing identify the creator as the great Renaissance architect Baldassarre Peruzzi (1481-1536).

Additional Information

1522-8?, Paper manufactured in Bergamo 1522-3, Peruzzi visits Bologna 1520s, Support made of three sheets of paper 1520s, Original drawing executed in pen and dark brown ink 1529, Construction of the façade of Palazzo del Monte in Bologna 1536, Death of Baldassarre Peruzzi in Rome 1550ca, Inscription on the recto: "Baldasar da Siena fe." 1560ca, Lamo attributes invention of Pal. del Monte to "Baldesera da Siena" 1560ca, Drawing folded twice in half 1570ca. Water damage at intersection of two main folds causes loss of center and butterfly stains on four quadrants 1580ca, Repair of center from behind with three pieces of discarded paper containing the draft of a letter in ink and traces of architectural drawings in graphite; restitution of perspective on the recto in graphite; repairs to right edge of the verso including inscription: "Prospettiva di Baldesar da Sie[na] ... et lumaca.-" 1700s?, Repair of all four edges and two main folds using paper strips with red chalk figure drawings; patches repair small holes 1800s?, "N. 28" inscribed on verso 1909/10?, Lawrence Grant White (b.1887; Harvard '08) studies architecture at Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris 1910ca, White probably acquires drawing(s) in Europe 1914. G.P. Stevens publishes Vignola plan of Villa Giulia owned by White 1925, Kent describes "Peruzzi" drawings in White collection in New York 1940/50, Henry Richardson Shepley receives drawing as gift from White 1962, Hugh Shepley inherits drawing from his father, H.R. Shepley 2003, MIT Museum receives drawing from Hugh Shepley

Type

identifying markings

Text

Watermark, inscriptions