Giorgio Vasari’s Collaborations

Abstract

Giorgio Vasari was a versatile artist active as historiographer, painter and architect. Given his multifaceted activity, the network of contacts he weaved was considerably wider than the usual collaborative relationships held by similar figures in the same age. In the building sites in which he worked as architect, Vasari usually also played the role of coordinator, making the work of his collaborators converge towards the project he had outlined. This paper aims to shed light on a previously unseen aspect of Vasari’s professional activity. The essay also argues that, in some sites, Vasari also worked as a construction manager, collecting large sums of money to be shared with his team of collaborators, also providing materials, as well as labourers, and coordinating the helpers active in architecture, painting and sculpture. Based on the examination of the sites in which Vasari worked, the study uncovers the contribution of Vasari as construction site manager, as opposed to mere organizer of construction sites under the control of other managers. Furthermore, the essay provides insights on how he chose his contributors depending on the specific circumstances and the challenges of each construction site.