Dwarsdoorsnede van de Villa Spinola di San Pietro te Genua 1622

Nicolaes Ryckmans made this cross-section of the Villa Spinola di San Pietro in Genoa using ink on paper. It’s not a conventional artwork, of course, but a technical drawing. Yet think about what is involved in such a visualization: the careful calibration of line weights to create an illusion of depth, and the meticulous indication of materials, like the stone of the arches. This level of detail demands a high level of skill, and while Ryckmans was not exactly a craftsman, he had to possess the same virtues: precision, patience, and a deep knowledge of the matter at hand. Architectural drawings like this one required a division of labor, with specialist draughtsmen contributing to the overall project. Consider this drawing as an object of design and a record of labor. Ryckmans’ work, and that of others like him, played a key role in the construction of elite environments. We can appreciate it for the insight it gives us, not just into design but the entire world of its making.