Design for a Stage Set 1696 - 1756

This 18th century pen and ink drawing by Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, a noted Italian architect and stage designer, is a design for a stage set. The drawing shows a perspective view of a grand hall with an elaborately decorated ceiling and numerous columns adorned with busts. The architectural details and the use of perspective create a sense of depth and grandeur, a hallmark of Bibiena's work. The drawing exemplifies the use of illusionistic techniques in stage design during the Baroque era. The design is characterized by elaborate architecture and a sense of expansive space, reflecting the theatrical sensibilities of the time. This drawing, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the ingenuity and artistry of Bibiena's work.