Loggia 1600 - 1700

This pen and brown ink drawing entitled "Loggia" presents a Renaissance architectural structure, though its maker is unknown. The loggia, a covered exterior gallery, was an important feature of Italian palazzi, providing a space for business and social interaction. In this sketch, the artist focuses on the play of light and shadow across the classical columns and arches. The drawing speaks to the enduring influence of classical antiquity during the Renaissance. The loggia itself, with its open arches and classical columns, evokes Roman architecture. Renaissance artists and architects turned to classical forms as a way to express humanist ideals and civic pride. The rediscovery of ancient texts and the study of Roman ruins fuelled a desire to revive the grandeur and order of the classical world. To fully understand this work, it would be helpful to know its date and location. Architectural treatises and pattern books provide further information on the social functions of different building types.