Studies for Consoles 16th century

This sheet of paper shows us a pen and ink study for consoles, made by an anonymous artist. When we look at drawings like this, it’s worth remembering that for centuries, drawing was the bedrock of artistic training, as well as essential to design and building trades. This sheet likely comes from early modern Europe, when the classical language of architecture was being revived. The consoles shown here would have supported cornices, shelves, or other projecting elements, acting as both structural and decorative features. These studies reflect the hierarchical nature of artistic production at the time. The identity of the artist is less important than the function served. We can use the print room collections of institutions like the Met to trace how classical forms came to signify power and order in early modern society. The meanings of art, you see, are always contingent on their social and institutional context.