Design for a Funerary Monument 1700 - 1800

This Design for a Funerary Monument was rendered in pen and ink, and wash on paper, by an anonymous artist. The drawing itself is precise and technically accomplished, suggesting the hand of a skilled draughtsman, likely trained in an architectural or design studio. The monument's design follows a symmetrical, classical style, with decorative sculpture including winged figures, and obelisk-like forms, all indicative of a patron with wealth. The design provides us with many insights into period taste, and also into the social function of art at this time. It’s easy to overlook the sheer amount of labor that would have been involved in realizing this design, from quarrying the stone to carving, to transporting it to the site, and erecting the finished monument. We might also reflect on the economic disparity inherent in such a commission, and the social status of those who were actually in charge of production. This drawing then, reminds us of the many hands involved in the creation of such a structure.