Project for a Rectangular Ceiling with Papal Coat of Arms (recto); Design for a Courtyard (verso) by Giovanni Alberti

Project for a Rectangular Ceiling with Papal Coat of Arms (recto); Design for a Courtyard (verso) 1558 - 1601

drawing, print

drawing

natural stone pattern

aged paper

toned paper

light pencil work

print

pencil sketch

human-figures

etching

possibly oil pastel

tea stained

human

pen work

watercolor

arm

Giovanni Alberti's "Project for a Rectangular Ceiling with Papal Coat of Arms (recto); Design for a Courtyard (verso)" is a 16th-century architectural drawing depicting a detailed design for a ceiling, likely commissioned for a papal palace or church. The drawing, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Alberti's skill in planning intricate decorative schemes, featuring elaborate moldings, grotesque figures, and the Papal Coat of Arms. This piece provides a glimpse into the Renaissance era's fascination with grand architectural projects and the role of art in enhancing religious spaces.