Project for a Lamp
Medium
lighting
Classification
lighting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-1022
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Barberi (1746–1809), a prominent Italian architect and designer based in Rome, created *Project for a Lamp* 1780, during the peak of theoclassical movement. This period saw artists and architects drawing inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman antiquity, emphasizing symmetry, proportion, and classical motifs in decorative arts. Barberi's work reflects this revival, as he specialized in elegant furniture and lighting designs for elite Roman patrons, blending functionality with refined ornamentation. As a "project," this piece is likely a preparatory drawing or plan for a lighting fix...