Recently, Professor Mark Morris’ theory class on models, Plastico Fantastico, had the opportunity to go see the famous models of St. Peter’s done by Antonio da Sangallo. Although this version of the building was not built, the model shows one of the many iterations of the catholic church and is interesting to see as part of a study on model making. The sheer size of the model was fascinating. Because of its size and fragility, it was placed in one of the piers of the church. Cornell made a special request via letter to view to model which was granted and we were ushered through closed off passages and roped off areas of the church into the pier to view the model. The model itself was placed on a large concrete base along with the model of the dome. It was lit up from below and opened up to allow people to enter one by one to view the interior of the model, which was as ornately carved and detailed as the exterior.
Being lead through St. Peter’s to see the models – with Prof Mark Morris and Prof Jeffrey Blanchard up ahead
Crossing the ropes at St. Peters
Model of the Dome
Drawing for the Model by Antonio da Sangallo
Donald Silberman ’13 looking through the windows of the model
Prof Mark Morris peering into the open model