Façade-ontwerp 1520 - 1608

This façade design was created by Leone Leoni, using pen and brown ink on paper, sometime in the 16th century. The drawing shows a symmetrical structure, reminiscent of a Roman triumphal arch, complete with niches for statuary and decorative reliefs. Leoni’s choice of media is telling. Pen and ink drawings like this were essential tools for architects and artists of the Renaissance. They allowed for precise planning and communication of design ideas. The lines, rendered with meticulous detail, evoke the stone and sculpted surfaces they represent. Imagine the hours of labor, not just in drafting the design, but also in the quarrying, carving, and construction of such a building. This drawing is not just an aesthetic exercise, but a technical one, indicative of the vast amount of work involved in its production. The drawing is an artifact in its own right. By considering the materials, making, and social context, we can understand the economic and cultural ambitions embedded in this Renaissance façade design.