Design for a Ceiling: Allegories of the Four Continents 1725

Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s “Design for a Ceiling: Allegories of the Four Continents” (1725) is a preparatory drawing for a ceiling fresco. The design is comprised of four corners with figures representing the four continents. The center space is left blank, suggesting that the design was meant to be adapted to fit a specific architectural space, likely a ceiling. The drawing is in black chalk on paper and showcases Pellegrini’s mastery of composition and figure drawing. This design, currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Pellegrini's ability to bring the allegorical world of the four continents to life in a dynamic and engaging way.