Decorontwerp van het Forum Romanum 1706 - 1756

Giuseppe Galli Bibiena rendered this ink drawing, "Decorontwerp van het Forum Romanum," to capture the Roman Forum with a breath of fresh air. The composition, dominated by the central arch, draws the eye inward, creating a theatrical depth enhanced by the linear perspective of receding colonnades. Bibiena employs a stark palette of monochrome ink, using intricate hatching and cross-hatching to sculpt forms and define the play of light and shadow. The architectural elements are rendered with precision, yet there’s an imaginative interpretation. It’s a stage design, not a documentary. The drawing flirts with the semiotic interplay between reality and representation. Bibiena challenges the viewer's perception of space and scale. It’s an early eighteenth-century vision, a testament to the enduring fascination with classical forms, reinterpreted through the lens of Baroque drama and theatricality. This is an artwork that invites us to consider how we construct and perceive architectural and cultural legacies.