Design for a (Temporary?) Structure consisting of Two Angels carring the Medici Coat of Arms crowned by the Figure of Christ
16th–early 17th century
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash; point of brush and bodycolor (in coat of arms)
Dimensions
sheet: 9 1/8 x 4 7/16 in. (23.2 x 11.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1952
Accession Number
52.570.169
Tags
Art Historical Context
This intriguing drawing from the Metropolitan Museum of Art presents a lively design for what appears to be a temporary ceremonial structure. Two graceful angels support the Medici coat of arms, which is crowned by a figure of Christ. Created in pen and brown ink with delicate washes and touches of bodycolor, the captures the energy of a working sketch while showcasing the refined draftsmanship typical of Italian artists in the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. The Medici family’s emblem at the center points to Florence’s powerful ruling dynasty, whose patronage shaped much of the e...