Sketch for Ceiling Panel 1500 - 1600

This anonymous 16th-century sketch for a ceiling panel is an intricate design for an architectural feature. The drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a pen and ink depiction of a grand, vaulted space, detailed with classical columns, elaborate ornamentation, and a sense of perspective. The artist’s attention to detail in capturing the architecture, including the play of light and shadow, suggests a keen understanding of Renaissance design principles. This work provides insight into the artistic and architectural sensibilities of the period.