Leonardo da Vinci

Architectural Studies

The sketches presented on the following plates represent Leonardo's investigations into the tiburio A term for the crossing tower or lantern that sits atop a cathedral dome, specifically referring here to the Milan Cathedral. and various centralized church plans. These drawings, originally executed in the late 15th century, demonstrate his mastery of structural engineering and his obsession with symmetry.

See Manuscript B, folio 4v

In these designs, one can observe the transition from the traditional Gothic style of Northern Italy to the burgeoning ideals of the High Renaissance. Leonardo often annotated these drawings with his characteristic mirror writing Leonardo wrote from right to left, making his notes readable only when held up to a mirror., discussing the distribution of weight and the stability of the arches.

Table of Structural Proportions

Note: The measurements are given in Milanese braccia An ancient unit of length, approximately 23 inches or 58 centimeters..