Twelve-light chandelier 1700 - 1725

This Twelve-light chandelier, of unknown date, was created by Giovanni Battista Metellino with glass and gilded bronze. The chandelier is visually striking, with its symmetrical arrangement of lights and cascading crystals evoking a sense of opulence and grandeur. The formal structure of the chandelier is defined by a clear hierarchy, from its ornate bronze crown to the radial distribution of candle arms. Notice how Metellino has structured the glass elements to refract and reflect light, creating a dazzling display of illumination and shadow, an effect heightened by the contrast with the gilded bronze framework. The chandelier can be seen as a semiotic system: its intricate details and precious materials communicate status, wealth, and taste. The formal qualities of the chandelier are not merely aesthetic but also function as signifiers within a larger cultural and philosophical discourse. It exemplifies the Baroque’s emphasis on spectacle, theatricality, and the power of visual display.