Paperblanks Vault of the Milan Cathedral Cotton Tote Bag

Carry your journals, books and everyday essentials in style with this Vault of the Milan Cathedral cotton tote bag from Paperblanks, featuring a handy inner zip pocket.

The Duomo di Milano represents the pinnacle of Italian Gothic architecture. The drawing recreated here is part of a series proposed by the architect Paolo Cesa Bianchi for the decoration of the interior vaults of the Cathedral. The soaring arabesques create a sense of a faux relief arborescence over a golden background.

The Story Behind the Design

With its intricate flying buttresses and ornate religious sculptures, the Duomo di Milano represents the pinnacle of Italian Gothic architecture. Telling a story of faith and art that spans centuries, the cathedral is truly a must-see among the many sights to visit in the city of Milan.

Construction for the Duomo began in 1386. It became a central location for lively discussions of creative ideas, as architects, spiritual leaders and trade workers shared ideas and inspirations for the cathedral’s design. In the end, hundreds of designers contributed their visions, the result being an entirely unique piece of architecture that merges influences from across the centuries.

In the 19th century there were many architects, each with their own unique vision, who submitted design proposals for the cathedral’s latest renovations. For this Duomo di Milano release, we looked to a series of architectural drawings proposed by Paolo Cesa Bianchi (1840–1920) for the decoration of the interior vaults. In 1881, Cesa Bianchi was named the engineer-architect of the Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano, a position he held until 1912. This submission by Cesa Bianchi centres around the use of arabesques, which create a sense of a faux relief arborescence over a golden background. The upward facing arrangement symbolises a closeness to heaven.

The proposals of architects like Cesa Bianchi are now carefully preserved in the Archive of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, an organisation that has been safeguarding and restoring the Duomo di Milano since 1387. Thanks to their work preserving the history of the cathedral, we can discover the unfinished works and inspirations of architects both past and present, and imagine the various versions of the cathedral that were never completed. We are honoured to partner with Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano to bring this example of sublime architectural vision to new eyes.

Learn more about how this collaborative collection came to be here.

• Original artwork: Architectural drawing by Paolo Cesa Bianchi
• Era: 1881
• Region: Italy

Product Details

• Dimensions: 380 × 380 × 90 mm
• Design: Vault of the Milan Cathedral
• Series: Duomo di Milano
• Collection: Duomo di Milano Collection
• Material: Cotton
• Inner zipper pocket size: 220 × 155 mm
• Strap Colour: Cream with dot
• Holds up to 7 kilograms (approximately 15.5 lbs)
• Durable strap for carrying the bag over one's shoulder
• Branded Paperblanks tag
• Artwork credit printed on inside of the bag
• Weight: 260 g
• Product code: PA9866-9 | ISBN: 9781439798669

About Paperblanks

Paperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts, bringing the same care and craftsmanship found in its celebrated journals to every accessory.