Architectural Study of Chiaravalle Tower, Milan

This measured drawing documents the bell tower of the Cistercian abbey in Chiaravalle, near Milan, combining plan, elevation, and sectional views with watercolor rendering. American architect Whitney Warren Jr. produced this scholarly study during European research, employing the conventions of architectural documentation: floor plans at left showing structural progression from base to cupola, a colored elevation revealing Romanesque brickwork and ornamentation, and a detailed profile section on the right. The methodical layering of orthographic projections—standard practice in 19th-century architectural training—enabled architects to understand three-dimensional form through two-dimensional representation, translating medieval construction logic into modern technical language.