Paleis met open koepel op kolommen en met vele beelden 1706 - 1756

Giuseppe Galli Bibiena made this pen and brown ink drawing, of a palace with an open dome on columns and with many sculptures. This design speaks to the 18th-century obsession with grand, theatrical architecture, a hallmark of the Baroque style. It also prompts us to consider the role of art and architecture in shaping social hierarchies. Picture the kind of events that might have unfolded in a space like this. This design presents a vision of power and spectacle, intended to impress and awe. Bibiena's architectural fantasies, created in the 18th century, reflect the culture of the European courts, their emphasis on display and the consolidation of aristocratic power. The institutions of art, like the academies, played a role in promoting this aesthetic and defining artistic taste. To understand art fully, we must examine the social structures that shaped artistic production and consumption. Scholarly resources help us to understand the social context of art, and remind us that art's meaning is contingent on its time and place.