Design for Ceiling Decoration
1746â1809
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
1938-88-1550
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Design for Ceiling Decoration by Giuseppe Barberi (, 1746–1809) offers a glimpse into the elegant world of 18th- and early 19th-century interior. Created during the artist's lifetime, this work is classified as an "interiors" piece in the Smithsonian American Art's collection, suggesting it served as a conceptual blueprint for adorning ceilings in grand architectural spaces. Though the medium remains unidentified amid ongoing research, such designs were vital in European traditions, transforming ordinary rooms into showcases of sophistication and artistry. Barberi's Italian heritage places ...