Vault of the Milan Cathedral

With its intricate flying buttresses and ornate religious sculptures, the Duomo di Milano represents the pinnacle of Italian Gothic architecture. Telling a story of faith and art that spans centuries, the cathedral is truly a must-see among the many sights to visit in the city of Milan.

Construction for the Duomo began in 1386. It became a central location for lively discussions of creative ideas, as architects, spiritual leaders and trade workers shared ideas and inspirations for the cathedral’s design. In the end, hundreds of designers contributed their visions, the result being an entirely unique piece of architecture that merges influences from across the centuries.

In the 19th century there were many architects, each with their own unique vision, who submitted design proposals for the cathedral’s latest renovations. For this Duomo di Milano release, we looked to a series of architectural drawings proposed by Paolo Cesa Bianchi (1840–1920) for the decoration of the interior vaults. In 1881, Cesa Bianchi was named the engineer-architect of the Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano, a position he held until 1912. This submission by Cesa Bianchi centres around the use of arabesques, which create a sense of a faux relief arborescence over a golden background. The upward facing arrangement symbolizes a closeness to heaven.

The proposals of architects like Cesa Bianchi are now carefully preserved in the Archive of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, an organization that has been safeguarding and restoring the Duomo di Milano since 1387. Thanks to their work preserving the history of the cathedral, we can discover the unfinished works and inspirations of architects both past and present, and imagine the various versions of the cathedral that were never completed. We are honoured to partner with Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano to bring this example of sublime architectural vision to new eyes.

Learn more about how this collaborative collection came to be here.