Architectural Reconstruction of the Background in Leonardo da Vinci’s Adoration of the Magi (Uffizi Drawing): A 3D Visualization Approach

Giancarlo De Leo

Abstract

This study presents a rigorous CAD-based three-dimensional reconstruction of the architectural background depicted in Leonardo da Vinci’s Adoration of the Magi, specifically as rendered in the preparatory drawing housed at the Uffizi Gallery. The reconstruction aims to clarify the spatial logic and compositional intent underlying Leonardo’s unfinished masterpiece, offering new insights into the perspectival structure and symbolic function of the architectural elements.

Using orthographic analysis and historical references to Florentine architecture of the late 15th century, the project reconstructs the symmetrical staircases, columnar portico, and vaulted substructures with high geometric fidelity. The CAD model serves both as a research tool and as a visual aid for interpreting Leonardo’s spatial imagination, bridging the gap between drawing and built form. This approach contributes to the broader discourse on digital heritage and the role of parametric modeling in art historical inquiry..

(day1: to be continued)