Ceiling Design with the Mystical Wine Press 1750

"Ceiling Design with the Mystical Wine Press" is a design by Johann Georg Dieffenbrunner, created in 1750. The drawing, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts an elaborate design that would likely have been painted on a ceiling. The design features a group of putti in the upper portion, surrounding a press that seems to hold a wine-making motif. In the lower portion, two figures are shown, one in a boat and another standing on a hill. This drawing is a testament to Dieffenbrunner’s skill in Baroque design, a style popular throughout Europe in the 18th century. The design is highly decorative and theatrical, with a focus on dynamic movement and dramatic lighting. The drawing is a valuable example of the decorative arts of the period, providing insight into the design process for ceiling paintings in the 18th century.