Design for a Sculptural Ornament With an Eagle, Volutes and Leaves. 1652 - 1725

Curator: Giovanni Battista Foggini gifted us this preparatory drawing, “Design for a Sculptural Ornament With an Eagle, Volutes and Leaves," sometime between 1652 and 1725. A delicate study in pencil, ink, and wash, it promises grand Baroque gestures, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Absolutely, that eagle practically takes flight off the page, doesn't it? There’s such controlled energy in the swirling volutes, a tension, almost, between naturalism and the geometric forms holding everything together. Curator: The materials used and the context surrounding its creation are fascinating, aren't they? As a design for a sculptural element, this drawing gives us insight into the artisanal process. Consider the economic context; highly skilled artists were required to render intricate designs like this and the labor involved would have been significant. Editor: True, but I see more than just artisanal labor; I sense the joy in that ornamentation. It's not merely decorative; there's this palpable, visceral excitement Foggini had playing with form. The leaves almost whisper of the Italian countryside, mingling with the bold statement of the eagle which screams freedom and perhaps a wink of Roman grandeur. Curator: Indeed, the eagle as a symbol speaks volumes about power and status. It's an emblem tied to Roman imperial authority. So seeing that translated into ornamental design points to the social aspirations present. This wouldn’t just be decoration, this is about the commodification of prestige. Editor: You read the political layers, while I can’t help feeling a simple admiration for how the shapes playfully collide. The eagle and its decorative support almost dance on the surface! There's light and shadow that moves across the design in such a gentle way it seems to bring it life and drama. It feels... joyous. Curator: Well, it’s intriguing how seemingly decorative sketches actually reveal the complex interplay of artistic labor, social aspiration, and the very materialization of status within Baroque culture. Editor: Maybe. But when I look at this design, it’s also the invitation to let your imagination fly! Foggini invites you to build with stone and metal what he began here on this little piece of paper.