Twee ornamentkoppen, een vaas en een cartouche 1644 - 1718

Curator: This drawing, entitled "Twee ornamentkoppen, een vaas en een cartouche," created sometime between 1644 and 1718, showcases the skill of Giuseppe Maria Mitelli in capturing the baroque style. Editor: My first thought? Elegant darkness. Even with the light ink on paper, there’s a sort of serious whimsy about the ornamentation. It’s almost goth-chic if you can imagine Marie Antoinette commissioning Siouxsie Sioux to decorate Versailles. Curator: Indeed. Note how the intricate details—rendered meticulously in ink—exhibit a precise command over line and form. Each flourish, curl, and geometric motif contributes to the overall Rococo exuberance typical of the era. Editor: See those cartouches? They look like cherubic faces peeking out from behind curtains made of scrolls! Gives a playful touch to something that could have been stuffy. It reminds me a bit of overgrown gardens and secret doors. Curator: Observe how Mitelli has organized the composition. The seemingly disparate elements—vase, ornamental heads, and cartouche—are arranged to facilitate a visual hierarchy which speaks to the formal balance valued in Baroque aesthetics. Editor: The balance is really compelling and yet also seems a bit surreal, like finding architectural fragments in a dream. It also makes you think about art in every day life, these designs aren't just academic exercises. These were designs meant to be brought into being. I love how these delicate ink lines contain so much latent creative power. Curator: I agree. This drawing, though modest in size, offers profound insights into the visual culture and artistic practices of its time. Editor: It also brings to mind just how much our styles and architecture from then keep reappearing in different forms, so many shapes and images still re-imagined. Thank you for showing this interesting work!