Design for Suspended Censer 1652 - 1725

This is a design for a suspended censer made by Giovanni Battista Foggini, likely in Florence, using pen and brown ink with gray wash over black chalk. The drawing’s lines elegantly suggest the censer’s complex curves and surface textures, and we can imagine the object brought to life through the work of silversmiths or bronze casters. The censer is elaborately ornamented, replete with acanthus leaves, cherubic faces, and regal crown-like embellishments, indicating it was likely intended for ceremonial use in a wealthy noble family. Consider the time, skill, and labor required to transform this drawing into a physical object. Artisans would have used specialized tools and techniques refined over generations. The value of the finished product would not only reflect the precious metals used, but also the social rituals it served and the artistry required to bring it into being. By considering the world of making, we appreciate how artworks like Foggini's design operate within complex systems of labor, value, and cultural meaning, inviting us to reconsider traditional hierarchies between art and craft.