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

This pen and wash drawing by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Foggini, created between 1652 and 1725, is a design for the top of an arch. The drawing features intricate details of a cherub and scrolling foliage, characteristic of the Baroque style. The delicate washes add depth and volume to the design, while the sketchiness of the lines suggests a preliminary study for a larger project. This drawing, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Foggini's masterful skill in decorative arts, which was highly sought after in his time.