Façade and Ruins 1730 - 1766

Mauro Antonio Tesi made this drawing in pen, ink, and wash, on paper sometime in the mid-18th century. The layering of these materials gives the image a sense of depth, playing with perspective and shadow to suggest the mass of the architecture depicted. Look closely, and you will see that Tesi combined his skilled hand with his knowledge of classical architecture, making a drawing that is both a faithful record and a fantasy. The architecture is highly detailed, but the scene itself—with a grand facade dissolving into ruins—could never exist in reality. Tesi was known for his ornamental designs, and here he seems to be making ornament itself into the subject of the artwork. Consider the labor involved in creating such a meticulously rendered drawing. Each line and wash was carefully placed to build up the image, requiring a high level of skill. In doing so, Tesi elevated the status of drawing from a mere preparatory exercise to a work of art in its own right, while reminding us of the social and economic conditions that made it possible for artists like him to thrive.