Design for the Top of an Arch, Decorated with a Cherub (recto); Design for the Frame of a Frieze (verso) 1652 - 1725

Giovanni Battista Foggini rendered this delicate design for the top of an arch with a cherub in ink on paper. The verso features another design for the frame of a frieze. The artist employs traditional materials to represent the possible carvings with a sense of form and depth, visible in the cherub and surrounding foliage. The careful linework showcases a detailed representation of Baroque ornament, hinting at the skilled handiwork required to carve the final architectural element. The drawing is both a functional design and an aesthetic object. It bridges the gap between the initial creative idea, and the potential of skilled labor to transform raw material into something intricate and culturally meaningful. The drawing embodies the value of artisanal skill and the integration of craft into artistic expression.