[drawing] Fig 1

Notebook M p.188 ‘Two reliefs on each side of the door are each of under canopies like that at p 72 (fig 1) which is the one on the right - over a St Christopher: The lines which separate the circle with head are not, I think joints: only bold projections. The head larger at fig 2 [Gothic Book p.72] and the opposite capital to the one drawn in its place, at fig 3 [Gothic Book p.72] These capitals are incised only not ribbed (that of the Madonna canopy is sharply ribbed as it turns) and their shafts are plain rounded cable spirals The St Christopher below is very barbarous; in punta di piedi as Vasari says and horrible feet they are: and yet it reminds me in many parts of the Noah: and is I believe only a work by second or third rate men, not much earlier. The other bas relief has date 1377’ The door between: general outline and small figures on capitals p 71 l Gothic book. [Gothic Book p.71L] Archivolt section fig 2 p 72 l Pil head fig 4 p 72 [Gothic Book p.72]. The figures kneeling of course occupy the angle of the square abacus which the mouldings xxx leave undercut.

The manuscript probably reads not ‘in juncto de piedi’, the version in the Ruskin Library Transcript T7A but ‘in punta di piedi’, a reference to Varari’s Life of Masaccio. Masaccio, according to Vasari, recognised the lack of skill of earlier painters who were not able to make figures with their feet firmly on the ground, but instead had them looking as if they were standing on tip-toe - ‘in punta di piedi’

Door-Head Accademia di Bell Arti

Door: Accademia di Bell Arti

Door-Head Accademia di Bell Arti

Door: Accademia di Bell Arti

Exterior detail: ‘Madonna’ Next to the door of the Accademia di Bell Arti

St Christopher: Next to the door of the Accademia di Bell Arti

Pilaster: Door of the Accademia di Bell Arti

[Version 0.05: May 2008]