Ceiling
17th century
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash
Dimensions
12-1/2 x 8-3/8 in. (31.8 x 21.3 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1880
Accession Number
80.3.575
Art Historical Context
This delicate 17th-century drawing titled *Ceiling*, is a example of anonymous Italian artistry from the Baroque era. Created by an unknown hand, it exemplifies the period's fascination with grand architectural illusions, likely serving as a preparatory sketch for an opulent ceiling decoration in a palace or church. The modest sheet measures just 12-1/2 x 8-3/8 inches, yet it packs a punch in its intricate planning. Executed in pen and brown ink brush and brown wash, work highlights masterful techniques favored by Italian draftsmen. The fine lines of the pen define precise architectural eleme...