Building of a Palace
Artist
Piero di Cosimo
(Italian, 1462 - 1521)
Dateca. late 1480s
MediumOil on wood
DimensionsFrame: 39 7/8 H × 86 1/2 W × 3 9/16 D in. (101.3 × 219.7 × 9 cm)
Unframed support: 32 1/2 H x 77 9/16 W x 3/8 D in. (82.5 x 197 x 1 cm)
Image: 30 1/2 H x 77 9/16 W in. (77.4 x 197 cm), without top/bottom additions
Unframed support: 32 1/2 H x 77 9/16 W x 3/8 D in. (82.5 x 197 x 1 cm)
Image: 30 1/2 H x 77 9/16 W in. (77.4 x 197 cm), without top/bottom additions
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineBequest of John Ringling, 1936
Object numberSN22
An impressive, idealized edifice rises up out of an undeveloped landscape. Every aspect of the building process is detailed in the foreground, proceeding from left to right. Materials are brought to the building site using carts and animals; workmen cut and shape the materials under the supervision of masons and architects; and the materials are then used in the building's construction. The pictured palace cannot be connected to any real building project in Renaissance Florence. Yet, the image illustrates the Renaissance revival of classical styles in buildings, particularly the grand palaces of families like the Medici in prosperous cities like Florence.
On View
On viewLocation
Bibliography- Museum of Art, Gallery 04
Bibliography: Berenson 1936 (a), p. 103. Panofsky 1937, pp. 12–30. Panofsky 1939,
pp. 33–67. Langton Douglas 1946, p. 117. Suida 1949, no. 22. Morselli 1957, p. 149.
Morselli 1958, p. 84. Zeri 1959, p. 44. Berenson 1963, vol. 1, pp. 175–76. Grassi 1963, p. 78. Fahy 1965, p. 206. Bacci 1966, pp. 104–5. Fredericksen and Zeri 1972, pp. 164, 635. Craven 1975, p. 374. Bacci 1976, pp. 96–97. Tomory 1976, no. 8. New York
1981, p. 17. Brucker 1983, pp. 218–19. Janson 1886, pp. 34–35. Washington 1991, pp. 251–52. Fermor 1993, pp. 100–1. Brandt 1994, pp. 80–97. Venice 1994, pp. 479–80. Forlani Tempesti and Capretti 1996, pp. 130–31. Ormond and De Groft 1997,
pp. 103, 145–47. Calvesi 1998, pp. 77–85. Franklin 2001, p. 48. Winter Park 2001, pp. 183–85. Merling 2002, pp. 42–43. Rosenberg 2006, pp. 54–55. Geronimus 2006, pp. 141–45. Borys 2008, pp. 42–43. [From Gothic Art in the Gilded Age]
pp. 33–67. Langton Douglas 1946, p. 117. Suida 1949, no. 22. Morselli 1957, p. 149.
Morselli 1958, p. 84. Zeri 1959, p. 44. Berenson 1963, vol. 1, pp. 175–76. Grassi 1963, p. 78. Fahy 1965, p. 206. Bacci 1966, pp. 104–5. Fredericksen and Zeri 1972, pp. 164, 635. Craven 1975, p. 374. Bacci 1976, pp. 96–97. Tomory 1976, no. 8. New York
1981, p. 17. Brucker 1983, pp. 218–19. Janson 1886, pp. 34–35. Washington 1991, pp. 251–52. Fermor 1993, pp. 100–1. Brandt 1994, pp. 80–97. Venice 1994, pp. 479–80. Forlani Tempesti and Capretti 1996, pp. 130–31. Ormond and De Groft 1997,
pp. 103, 145–47. Calvesi 1998, pp. 77–85. Franklin 2001, p. 48. Winter Park 2001, pp. 183–85. Merling 2002, pp. 42–43. Rosenberg 2006, pp. 54–55. Geronimus 2006, pp. 141–45. Borys 2008, pp. 42–43. [From Gothic Art in the Gilded Age]
