To an approximate scale of 1:8

apud. S. nicholaum. in carcere. tulliani. (‘Near San Nicola in Carcere Tulliani’); [measurements]

• c.1513/14
  Datable to c.1513/14

Pen and brown ink and grey-brown wash over stylus lines, traces of black chalk and compass pricks

Bernardo della Volpaia

This richly decorated Doric capital no longer survives in or near San Nicola in Carcere, the building mentioned in the caption (for a discussion of the church’s name, see Fol 62v/Ashby 106 Drawing 4). With a two-tier neck, an echinus with egg-and-dart, and an abacus with florets (one shown) at the corners of its soffit, it is very similar in size and design to the capital depicted to its left, although the ornamentation differs. The same capital was evidently depicted but in elevational format by an associate of Michelangelo. In the present drawing, it is represented as a section combined with a partial view seen from below to reveal a dowel hole (in accordance with a practice that positions the hole at too high a level). The section-plus-view format is similarly followed in the two drawings below this one, and in those on the verso (originally the recto). The drawing was copied by Michelangelo, although he adjusted the format to a frontal depiction.

RELATED IMAGES: [Michelangelo] London, BM, 1859-6-25-560/1v (De Tolnay 1975–80, 4, p. 46; Agosti–Farinella 1987, pp. 94–95)

OTHER IMAGES MENTIONED: [Circle of Michelangelo] CB, 5Av: right side (De Tolnay 1975–80, 4, p. 47)

Ashby 1904, p. 59
Census, ID 57733

Drawing

Digitisation of the Codex Coner has been made possible through the generosity of the Census of Antique Works of Art and Architecture Known in the Renaissance, Berlin.

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