Design for the Mantlepiece and Dado for a Room in the Villa Digne
1746â1809
Medium
architecture
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-1553
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi (1746–1809), a prominent Italian architect, created this intricate *Design for the Mantlepiece andado for a Room in Villa Digne* during his active career in the late 18th century. As an architectural drawing, it showcases Barberi's vision for elegant interior elements: the mantlepiece, a decorative fireplace surround, and the, the lower section of a room's wall often adorned with panels or motifs. These designs reflect the refined tastes of Italian villas, blending functionality with ornamental beauty. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's architecture collection—ac...