Design for Ceiling Decoration
1746â1809
Medium
interiors
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
1938-88-1540
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi (1746–1809), a prominent Italian architect and designer, created this *Design for Ceiling Decoration* during the late 18th century, a time when opulent interiors reflected the grandeur of aristocratic life in Europe. Working in the transition from Rococo exuberance to Neoclassical elegance, Barberi specialized in intricate ornamental schemes that adorned palaces and villas, blending symmetry, classical motifs, and lavish detailing to elevate architectural spaces. As a preparatory drawing classified under "interiors," this work exemplifies the meticulous planning behind ceilin...