Gli studi di Piero Sanpaolesi sulla Cupola di Santa Maria del Fiore tra gli anni ’30 e ’60 del Novecento

This contribution analyzes the methodological evolution in Piero Sanpaolesi's studies on the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, identifying a paradigmatic shift in the relationship between historical-architectural research and restoration practice. Through an examination of his writings from 1936 to the 1970s, it emerges how Sanpaolesi transcended the purely documentary approach, integrating the study of sources with direct observation of the structure to deconstruct established narratives, such as the myth of Brunelleschi's exclusive authorship. This interdisciplinary methodology, anticipating practices now consolidated in monumental diagnostics, redefines the traditional relationship between historical knowledge and conservation design, positioning Sanpaolesi as a pivotal figure bridging humanistic historiography and the technical-structural analysis of architectural heritage.