Design for Ceiling Decoration, a Barrel Vault
1790â1800
Classification
interiors
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-1539
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi, a Italian architect and designer (6–1809), this *Design for Ceiling Decoration, a Barrel Vault* between 1790 and 1800. Active in Rome during the late Enlightenment, Barberi specialized in elegant interior schemes inspired by classical antiquity, blending architectural precision with decorative flair. This drawing outlines an ambitious ceiling for a barrel vault—a tunnel-like arched structure common in grand palaces and churches—envisioning intricate patterns that would transform utilitarian spaces into awe-inspiring vistas. The design exemplifies the Neoclassical era's fasci...