The picture shows the original wood model for the dome of St Peter's.
In keeping with his conviction that architecture must originate from sculpture and painting, Michelangelo initially produced a clay model in order to test the plasticity afforded by his architectural creation. Subsequently, this wooden model was made by a carpenter. Alterations were made to the model in the course of the century, probably by Giacomo della Porta, who modified the external structure, and by Luigi Vanvitelli (1700-1773), who carefully copied damage encountered by the real dome onto the model.
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