Design for a Wall Decoration
Medium
Pen and ink with yellow, brown and dark gray wash
Dimensions
7-1/8 x 7-1/4 in
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
52.570.83
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Design for a Wall Decoration*, created by an anonymous North Italian artist around 1780–1800, offers a glimpse into the refined world of late 18th ornamental architecture. Measuring just 7-1/8 x 7-1/4 inches, this compact drawing captures intricate patterns suited for elegant interiors, likely in a villa or palazzo in regions like Lombardy or Veneto, where lavish decorations graced the homes of the nobility during the waning Rococo era and the rise of NeoclassicismExecuted in pen and ink with delicate yellow, brown, and dark gray washes, the work showcases a masterful technique...