Design for Ceiling 1700 - 1800

Leonardo Marini created this design for a ceiling using graphite on off-white laid paper in the late 18th century. Marini was working in a period when decorative schemes in architecture were a visual representation of power and status, particularly amongst the aristocratic and wealthy merchant classes. The elaborate, symmetrical design, with its floral motifs and curvilinear forms, speaks to the opulence and grandeur associated with the Baroque and Rococo styles. This drawing provides a glimpse into the world of lavish interiors, reflecting the social hierarchies of the time. The design is not merely ornamental; it represents a cultural language of wealth and refinement. Consider the labor and resources required to execute such a design in a grand residence. This image reflects the vast disparities in lived experience, and asks us to consider how aesthetics can both reveal and conceal the underlying structures of society.