Facade of Palazzo Muti at Piazza SS. Apostoli in Rome 1710 - 1727

Pietro Paolo Coccetti created this rendering of the Facade of Palazzo Muti in Rome sometime between 1710 and 1727, using pen and brown ink with gray wash over black chalk. The Palazzo itself speaks to the material culture of Rome at the time, built as it was from travertine stone, brick, and stucco. Coccetti’s rendering, of course, is a step removed from that reality. His work is an interpretation, yet it embodies the values of precision and careful observation prized in architectural drawing. Look closely, and you can see the subtle gradations of tone, achieved by layering the wash. This would have been a skill honed through years of practice, part of the training required to be a draftsman. The drawing gives us a glimpse into the original building's form and volume, as well as insight into the processes involved in its design and construction. These architectural renderings were essential to the building trade, and an art form in their own right. By attending to the qualities of line, tone, and technique, we can appreciate the social and cultural significance embedded in this seemingly straightforward depiction.