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
1938-88-1883
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi (1746–1809), a prominent Italian architect and designer in Rome during the late 18th, created this *Design for Ceiling Decoration* amid the transition from opulent Rococo to the refined elegance of Neoclassicism. Working in an era when grand interiors symbolized wealth and cultural sophistication, Barberi specialized in architectural ornamentation, contributing to palazzos and public spaces that blended classical motifs with innovative flair. This preparatory design exemplifies his expertise in crafting harmonious ceiling schemes, where intricate patterns and proportions drew ...