Project for a Chapel in the Church of San Ciriaco, Ancona 1700 - 1773

This is Luigi Vanvitelli's "Project for a Chapel in the Church of San Ciriaco, Ancona," made with pen and brown ink over graphite on paper. The lines, rendered with precision, capture the proposed chapel's intricate design. Consider the labor involved in a drawing like this. Beyond Vanvitelli’s skill as a draughtsman, the entire architectural project would have been realized through further labor and careful planning, involving quarrymen, stone carvers, masons, and other trades. Each material—stone, marble, wood—would demand specific techniques, tools, and expertise. The classical style, with its columns, pediment, and decorative motifs, evokes a sense of grandeur and authority, reflecting the social and political context of 18th-century Italy. Vanvitelli was also designing for posterity: each of the materials used were meant to last, and to impress. As you consider the drawing, remember that it represents an immense amount of work. It encourages us to look beyond the surface and consider the full story of design, craft, and society.