Design for Festival Decorations on the Bases of Piers
1702–86
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, over black chalk
Dimensions
13-1/2 x 15-3/8 in. (34.3 x 39.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1968
Accession Number
68.683.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Carlo Marchionni's *Design for Festival Decorations the Bases of Piers*ca. 18th century) captures the exuberant spirit of Roman festive architecture during the Baroque era. As a prominent Italian architect and designer active in Rome, Marchionni (1702–1786) contributed to grand public spectacles, where temporary decorations transformed urban structures like piers—likely column bases or bridge supports—into lively theatrical backdrops for religious processions or civic celebrations. This drawing reflects the opulent tradition of *apparati festivi*, ephemeral installations that blended architect...
About the Artist
Carlo Marchionni · 1702–1786
Italian architect. Comment on works: architect; sculptor