Open full image Pin

Wooden Falsework Supporting a Vault

Jacob Bos

1561

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Architectural

Dominant colour

Wooden Falsework Supporting a Vault is a 1561 ink by Jacob Bos, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacob Bos
When & what style?: 1561 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a black-and-white drawing of a wooden scaffolding structure inside a building. The scaffolding forms an arch shape, with crisscrossing beams and supports. The walls around it are marked with measurements in Italian, and there’s text in the margins explaining the setup. The drawing looks like a detailed plan for building something—likely part of a church or large space. The lines and notes suggest this was used as a guide for workers on the ground. Next, check out the technique: engraving to see how artists like Bos made precise prints like this.