The Cabinets of the Sacristy of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan and the Representation of Architecture

The cabinets in the sacristy of Santa Maria delle Grazie, commissioned by Ludovico il Moro after Beatrice d’Este’s death in 1497, offer a unique glimpse into the architectural and figurative practices of their anonymous creators. Unlike prior scholarship that focused on decorative techniques and perspective, this study reveals how the buildings depicted in the biblical scenes’ backgrounds reflect broader Renaissance architectural culture. While attribution remains uncertain, the analysis highlights the cabinets as significant artifacts of Milanese artistic tradition, blending heraldic symbolism with innovative spatial representation.

Mascheretti, L. (2023). The Cabinets of the Sacristy of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan and the Representation of Architecture. Architectural Histories, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.16995/ah.9156