Design for the Corner of a Cove 1700 - 1780

This drawing of the corner of a cove was made anonymously on a sheet sometime in the past. Architectural drawings such as this reveal the institutional structures of art production at the time. The drawing represents a design for an interior architectural feature. The visual codes are those of classical architecture, a visual language which has historically signified power and authority. We see references to the natural world in the scrolls and stylized leaves. It presents a tension between organic and geometric shapes. The historical associations of the architectural style tie in with those of ancient Greece and Rome. The design may reflect the social aspiration of the patron, who may have wanted to associate their home with the grandeur and history of classical civilization. Looking into the archives of architectural firms of the period might reveal how design practices were organized. By understanding its context, we see how art is shaped by social and institutional forces.