Sagrestia Vecchia

Interior

The Sagrestia Vecchia, or Old Sacristy, is a Christian building in Florence, Italy, one of the most important monuments of the early Italian Renaissance architecture. It is accessed from the inside of San Lorenzo^[1] off the left transept. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and paid for by the Medici family,^[2] who also used it for their tombs, it set the tone for the development of a new style of architecture that was built around proportion, the unity of elements, and the use of the classical orders. The space came to be called the “Old Sacristy” after a new one was begun in 1510 on the other side of S. Lorenzo’s transept.^[2]

History

The structure was begun 1421 and largely complete in 1440.^[2] When finished, it was, however, quite isolated, the reason being that construction for the new building for San Lorenzo, the design for which Brunelleschi was also responsible, was not far along. It was only in the years after 1459 that the Old Sacristy was unified with San Lorenzo.^[3]

Design

The plan is a perfect square with a smaller square scarsella or altar on the south side. The scarsella is axially positioned in the wall, and connected to the main space by an arched opening. The interior of the main space is articulated by a rhythmic system of pilasters, arches that emphasize the space’s geometric unity. The pilasters are for purely visual purposes, and it was this break between real structure and the appearance of structure that constituted one of the important novelties of Brunelleschi’s work. The pilasters support an entablature, the only purpose of which is to divide the space into two equal horizontal zones. The upper zone features pendentives under the dome, another relative novelty, more typical of Byzantine architecture. The dome is actually an umbrella dome, composed of twelve vaults joined together at the center.^[4] It was not an uncommon design and Brunelleschi may have learned the technique from a visit to Milan or other places where such domes existed. What was new was the way in which the dome was integrated into the proportion of the space below. The use of color is restricted to grey for the stone and white for the wall. The correct use of the Corinthian order for the capitals was also new and a testament to Brunelleschi’s studies of ancient Roman architecture.

The decorative details are by Donatello, who designed the tondoes in the pendentives, the lunettes, the reliefs above the doors and the doors themselves.^[5]

Tombs

In the center is the sarcophagus of Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici and Piccarda Bueri, by Buggiano. Set along one of the walls is the porphyry and bronze sarcophagus of Giovanni and Piero de' Medici by Verrocchio.^[6]

References

1. San Lorenzo. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007.
2. Brunelleschi, Filippo: Architectural career. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007.
3. Eugenio Battisti. Filippo Brunelleschi: The Complete Work. (New York: Rizzoli, 1981)
   • See also: Howard Saalman. Filippo Brunelleschi: The Buildings. (London: Zwemmer, 1993).
4. Fangi, G.; Malinverni, E. S. (2005). "The Creation of the 3D Solid Model by Laser Scanning: The "Old Sacristy" by Brunelleschi in Florence" (PDF). Università Politecnica delle Marche. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
5. Donatello: Early career. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007.
6. Verrocchio, Andrea del: The paintings and sculptures. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007.

External links

Media related to Sagrestia Vecchia at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 43°46′28.97″N 11°15′13.13″E / 43.7747139°N 11.2536472°E