Fifteen Sketches for a Throne
Medium
architecture
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-1456
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi (1746–1809), a prominent Italian architect of the late Enlightenment era, created *Fifteen Sketches for Throne* around 1810, shortly after his death. These delicate architectural drawings capture the iterative design process for a grand throne, likely intended for ceremonial or royal settings. Barberi, known for his work in Rome and contributions to neoclassical architecture, exemplifies the period's emphasis on symmetry, proportion, and classical motifs inspired by ancient Rome and Greece. In an age of revolutionary upheaval across Europe, such designs evoked timeless authori...