Sketches of Sculptured Decoration. Entablatures and a Frieze with Human, Animal and Floral Ornaments 1620 - 1660

Agostino Mitelli created these Sketches of Sculptured Decoration with pen and brown ink on paper. Here, we see a collection of architectural ornaments scattered across the sheet, each rendered with meticulous detail, yet together creating an overwhelming effect of volume. Mitelli's work reflects a deep understanding of classical forms, combined with the baroque dynamism of his era. The sketches include entablatures, friezes, and various decorative elements, showcasing a fusion of human, animal, and floral motifs. Each form suggests a potential vocabulary for the development of complex structures, almost like a catalogue of architectural gestures. These drawings invite us to consider how architectural elements function not only as structural components but also as carriers of meaning and cultural values. The repetition of forms and motifs within the sketch suggests that the artwork is less about the individual components, and more about the language of architectural form itself. It's a discourse on power, taste, and the semiotics of architectural space. The incompleteness and provisional nature of the sketches highlight the creative process, where established meanings are constantly destabilized and reimagined.