Studiolo of Francesco I: A Renaissance Worldview

Borghini conceived the Studiolo as a microcosm. His worldview was unitary and comprehensive, originally drawn on the traditional medieval view best expressed by Isidore of Seville in the 7th century, and well captured in a schematic diagram of the era:

Isidore de Seville Mundus Annus Homo e-codices_zos-pa0032_062r_max Zofingen Stadtbibliothek.jpg

This schema neatly summarised the Late Antique view of the natural world, based on the philosophy of Aristotle and adjusted to reflect the early medieval consensus of Roman and Christian thinkers. 

Had the Middle Age view altered by Borghini's time? The ceiling schema is given below: 

Studiolo Ceiling Scheme.PNG

Commentary: Georgiana Hedesan (January 2022).