Design for Ceiling Decoration, a Barrel Vault
1790–1800
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
1938-88-1563
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi, a Italian architect and designer (1746–1809), created this *Design for Ceiling Decoration a Barrel Vault* between 1790 and 1800. Working in the late Enlightenment era, Barberi specialized in elegant interiors that blended classical antiquity with contemporary refinement, reflecting Italy's Neoclassical revival. This preparatory drawing captures his vision for a barrel vault—a sweeping, tunnel-like architectural form rooted in ancient Roman engineering, often used in grand palaces and churches to evoke grandeur and continuity. The design exemplifies the period's fascination w...