Elevation of a church
1746-1809
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
1938-88-1217
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Elevation of a Church** by Giuseppe Barberi (, 1746–1809) is a captivating architectural drawing from the Smithsonian American Art's collection. As an "elevation," it presents a precise, two-dimensional side view of a church facade, a fundamental technique in 18th-century architecture for planning and visualization. Barberi, a Roman architect and engraver active during the Enlightenment, contributed to Italy's rich tradition of ecclesiastical design, where such renderings bridged conceptual sketches and built structures. Created sometime between 1746 and 1809, this work exemplifies the meti...