Architectural and Figural Sketches
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-1150
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Architectural and Figuraletches** by Carlo Marchni (Italian, 1702–1786), created around 1760, offers a glimpse into the creative mind of an esteemed 18th-century Italian architect. During this period, Italy was a hub of artistic innovation, blending the grandeur of Baroque traditions with the elegant curves of emerging Rococo styles. Marchionni, for his architectural projects in Rome such as palazzos and villas, often combined structural designs with lively figural elements to bring his visions to life on paper. These sketches, classified within architecture, likely served as preparatory stu...