In the past, the theme of the medieval building site has been approached from different viewpoints. Reliable studies have been devoted to the question of artists and craftsmen and to their interrelations in the construction of large medieval buildings. Moreover, quite numerous are case studies on the pictorial or sculptural sites of individual buildings or on the mobility of artists and workers.
The purpose of this project is to highlight, thanks to a cross-analysis of data, costs and organization of the building site, viewed in close relation to the execution phases. The construction phases and the (sculpted or painted) figurative elements must always be jointly and coherently examined and compared, taking into account documentary data (when existing) and reporting all available data. The analysis of the evolution of fabrics and of the decoration of buildings, either on the basis of documentary testimonies or in case of their absence, may help, in a comparative perspective, to formulate a global evaluation of certain phenomena, a task never attempted so far.
This means that research should not concentrate on the economy of sites – a theme already elucidated by recent historiography, although from a sociological viewpoint or in relation to city organization. The focus of the project is clarification of the practical aspects – organization and execution – of the building site. Three case studies will be analyzed and compared by means of accurate examination of archive material and complete reading of mural painting, frieze and architectural sculpture. With reference to the three case studies, the project will usefully establish whether the ways of organizing the activity of workers reveal ‘local’ and territory-rooted features. The case studies concern three churches – the Siena cathedral, the Santo in Padua and Saint Zeno in Verona – which played a specific role in their respective cities. Despite the rich bibliography existing, there still remain lines of inquiry to be pursued with highly integrated methodology implying recourse to documentary evidence.
In particular, the comparative perspective specific to the project might be helpful for understanding to what extent it is possible to speak globally of ‘medieval building sites’ (according to a view basically adopted by historiography for decades) or if, instead, there exist specific characters proper to large city building sites, such as those of cathedral churches.
This will allow complete and fully detailed examination of the different buildings, thus permitting a comprehensive view, both diachronically and synchronically.
This research project aims at focalizing the following topics:
– organization of the work of stonemasons, viewed in its diachronic modifications;
– origin and modifications of the role of the chief-mason;
– processes of standardization of architectonic sculpture;
– possible connection between devotional mural painting and construction events.

The project is funded by European Union – Next-GenerationEU – National Recovery and Resilience PLAN (PNRR) – Mission 4, Component 2, Investiment 1.1 Fondo per il Programma Nazionale di Ricerca e Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN). Project N. 2022FJ22CF_002