Framed Design for a Stage Set with Arches, Stairs, Human Figure and Sphinx Statue. 1772 - 1842

This detailed drawing, created between 1772 and 1842 by Italian artist Mauro Berti, is a design for a stage set. The drawing depicts a grand architectural space with a series of arches, a set of stairs, a sphinx statue, and a human figure. The architectural elements and composition suggest a theatrical scene of drama and intrigue, perhaps even a setting for an opera or play. The drawing, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offers a glimpse into the elaborate world of stage design during the 18th and 19th centuries.