Descriptions of the artists of Florence: Arnolfo di Lapo, architect of the Duomo: 832/5.f.16

Materials used in production

Brown ink

Components of the work

Support composed of laid paper
Leaf Size Height 213 mm Width 150 mm

Techniques used in production

Handwriting : Pen and brown ink on laid paper

Inscription or legends present

• Text: 16
• Location: Upper right
• Method of creation: Brown ink

Inscription present: [i] preceding word crossed through in brown ink; [ii] preceding two words crossed through in brown ink, following two above the line

• Text: Artists of Florence who laboured / for the restoration of the arts / Arnolfo di Lapo born 1232 / built the Duomo the taste of this is / more square & more regular in its parts than of other / buildings erected in the same age in / the more Northern parts of Europe as / the whole is incrusted with white marble formed[i] / into inlaid[ii] enriched with ornaments inlaid, in green & / various coloured marbles forming a / flat surface, round the windows he has introduced ornaments taken from fragments / of Greek, Etruscan & roman remains, / scrols,[sic] frets & ornaments of friezes in / above mentioned manner, he has also carved the mouldings with Egg & ton / que & leaves with different numbers of / points like those on the best Sarcophagi & c of / Antiquities with Arabesque friezes in / a fine taste, these decorations shew the / opportunies[sic] & judgment[sic] this Artist / possessed were very superior to his
• Location: Recto
• Method of creation: Brown ink

Inscription present: [i] preceding seven words crossed through in brown ink; [ii] preceding three words crossed through in brown ink

• Text: contempories northward, his abilities as / a builder are sufficiently established / by the permanence & perfection in which / this Cathderal & the Palazzo Vecchio / remain to this day, ' tho this Church / is of a more Square & heavy taste / than the Cathedral of Milan, the / Mosaics in the colored[sic] Marbles on white / ground, & the pure Antique greek orna- / -ments on the mouldings, & the Roman / orments[sic] on the Friezes give it a most beautiful effect in the parts, [?] is / the oldest building in Florences;[i] Lapo / died 1300 / Cimabue / born 1240 'tho he is[ii] found the Art of / painting, as practised by the Greek painters / (under whom he studied the rudiments] in the / very lowest state, their figures in general were in perpendicular upright Attitudes whether sitting / or standing. the heads standing erect on the / necks or leaning to one side in an unmean-
• Location: Verso
• Method of creation: Brown ink

Identification numbers

Accession number: 832/5.f.16
Primary reference Number: 38140
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 20 May 2021 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints