Designs for Archways and Baldachins with Caryatids and Coats of Arms (Recto). Design for a Monument with Statues of Prudence and Fortitude (Verso). 1652 - 1725

This pen-and-ink drawing, created between 1652 and 1725 by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Foggini, is a collection of architectural designs. The sheet features various designs for archways and baldachins, adorned with elaborate ornamentation including caryatids, coats of arms, and intricate scrollwork. The verso of the sheet depicts a design for a monument, featuring statues of Prudence and Fortitude. These designs, drawn in a style characteristic of the Baroque period, showcase Foggini’s mastery of architectural detail and his ability to capture the grandeur and opulence of the era. This drawing, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the artistic practice of one of Italy’s most important Baroque architects.