Half Elevation and Half Ground Plan for a Catafalque: Columns Supporting a Stepped Dome with 2 Obelisks Surmounted by Figure of Fame 1696 - 1756

Giuseppe Galli Bibiena's "Half Elevation and Half Ground Plan for a Catafalque: Columns Supporting a Stepped Dome with 2 Obelisks Surmounted by Figure of Fame" (1696-1756) is a detailed architectural drawing that exemplifies the Baroque era's grandeur and theatricality. The artwork features a half-elevation and a half-ground plan of a catafalque, a temporary structure used for ceremonial funerals. The design showcases intricate details, such as columns supporting a stepped dome, two obelisks topped with a figure of Fame, and elaborate ornamentation. Bibiena, known for his masterful stage designs, utilized perspective and light to create an illusion of depth and grandeur, typical of the Baroque style. This drawing, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a testament to Bibiena's skill in architectural design and theatrical illusion.