Titelblad: Disegni Varii c. 1655 - 1657

This title page from an undated book of designs was likely made in Paris for the publisher Pierre Mariette. The publisher would have been a key figure in the art world, acting as a gatekeeper for taste and style. The image is a riot of classical and natural motifs, from acanthus leaves to artichokes, flanking the title in Italian which promises ‘various designs’ of benefit to anyone who ‘professes’ design as a skill. This was a period when the institutions of art were beginning to take shape and there was an increasing interest in codifying the principles of ‘good’ design. It may seem surprising that this title page, produced to advertise a book from which others would learn to be better artists, is anonymous. However, the conditions of artistic production in the 17th century were very different from today, and the art market was much less focused on individual genius and authorship. To understand this book better, we could research the Mariette publishing house, or delve into manuals for artists from the period to see what sort of guidance they offered.