Who painted Gothic Vault [verso]?

Gothic Vault [verso] was painted by Parri Spinelli in 1440.

Where can I see Gothic Vault [verso]?

Gothic Vault [verso] is held by National Gallery of Art.

Artwork

Gothic Vault [verso]

Gothic Vault [verso] is an ink drawing by Parri Spinelli. It dates from 1440 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Gothic Vault [verso] is a pen and brown‑ink drawing on laid paper, executed circa 1440. The work records a study of a Gothic vault, rendered as a half‑completed stone arch with robust columns and pointed caps. The sketch is informal, with rapid lines and cross‑hatching to suggest depth, leaving many areas blank to indicate light.

Context

The drawing is attributed to Parri Spinelli, an early‑Renaissance painter from the Arezzo region. Son and apprentice of Spinello Aretino, Spinelli spent several years in Florence (around 1411‑1419) working in Lorenzo Ghiberti’s workshop before returning to Arezzo, where he became the city’s pre‑eminent painter.

Technique & Style

Spinelli employed brown ink and a dense network of cross‑hatching to model the vault’s shadows and structural forms. The quick, sketchy strokes convey a provisional quality, indicating that the piece served as a preparatory study rather than a finished composition.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing focuses on the architectural geometry of a Gothic vault, reflecting contemporary interest in the structural and decorative possibilities of Gothic architecture. By isolating the vault’s ribs and columns, the study highlights the interplay of light and shadow that defines the style’s vertical emphasis.

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…

Museum

National Gallery of Art

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