Pillar strip, three putti with ribbon and garlands
1780–1800
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
1938-88-1863
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi, a Italian architect and designer active Rome during the late th century (1746–1809), this charming *Pillar Strip, Three Putti with Ribbon andlands* between 1780 and 1800. Depicting three playful putti—those endearing childlike figures from classical mythology—frolicking with flowing ribbons and garlands, the piece exemplifies Neoclassical decorative arts. These motifs evoke the grace of ancient Roman frescoes, revived during the Enlightenment era when artists sought inspiration from antiquity to create elegant, harmonious interiors. As a "pillar strip" classified under inter...