Who painted Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso)?

Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso) was painted by Parri Spinelli in 1414.

Where can I see Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso)?

Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso)?

Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso) is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso)

Parri Spinelli , 1414

Navicella (recto); Two Drawings of Ships (verso) is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Parri Spinelli. It dates from 1414 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The drawing, part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s earliest holdings, presents a compact scene of a vessel battling turbulent waters, its crew precariously gripping the rigging. Executed in ink on paper, the image captures a moment of maritime struggle with meticulous line work, offering a rare visual record of a lost medieval composition.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a single ship caught in a storm, emphasizing the vulnerability of human endeavor against nature’s forces. The tiny figures clinging to the mast convey tension and drama, reflecting medieval themes of peril and divine providence often associated with nautical voyages.

Technique & Style

Rendered with fine ink lines, the drawing demonstrates careful hatching to suggest the churning sea and the texture of the vessel’s hull. The stylized treatment of waves and the precise depiction of the sailors’ posture reveal an adherence to the narrative clarity characteristic of early 14th‑century Italian drawing.

History & Provenance

Originally thought to be a work by Giotto (c.1267‑1337), scholarly research now attributes the piece to Parri Spinelli, who reproduced a now‑lost mosaic designed by Giotto for the portico of Old St. Peter’s in Rome. The drawing entered the Cleveland Museum’s collection as its oldest sheet, serving as a crucial documentary link to the vanished mosaic.

Context

The drawing belongs to a period when artists frequently copied monumental works for study or dissemination. By reproducing Giotto’s mosaic, Spinelli contributed to the transmission of the master’s visual ideas, while also reflecting the broader medieval interest in documenting religious and civic art beyond its original setting.

Artist & collection

Artist

Parri Spinelli

Parri Spinelli (c. 1387 – 1453) was an Italian (Tuscan) painter of the early renaissance who was born in the Province of Arezzo. His father and teacher was Spinello Aretino (1350–1410), who was active throughout…