Project for a Headquarters of a War Ministry
1853
Medium
Pen and ink and watercolor
Dimensions
23 5/8 x 34 15/16 in. (60 x 88.7 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1997
Accession Number
1997.143.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
In 1853, artist Wagner envisioned a grand "Project for a Headquarters of a War Ministry," capturing the era's fascination with monumental architecture amid Europe's shifting political landscape. This detailed drawing, rendered in pen and ink with watercolor, measures an impressive 23⅝ × 34¾ inches (60 × 88.7 cm) and exemplifies 19th-century architectural drafting techniques. The medium allowed Wagner to combine precise line work for structural intricacies with subtle watercolor washes to evoke the building's imposing scale and ornate details, a common practice for presenting ambitious designs ...