Architectural Veduta

This masterpiece from around 1490 is an architectural study of the artist's ideas concerning the building of an ideal city. Martini was a Renaissance Italian artist of the School of Siena. He was a sculptor and painter, but is now best known for his visionary theories of architecture. He built city walls and fortresses for the Duke of Urbino and also designed battle machinery and fortifications, and is said to have been one of the first Europeans to come up with the idea of the military land mine. Later in life he was acquainted with the young Leonardo da Vinci. He ended his career as the architect in charge of the Siena Cathedral.