Design for a Stage Set 1770 - 1780

This drawing by Italian artist Giuseppe Barberi is a design for a stage set, likely for an opera or play. The drawing features a grand classical setting with a high ceiling, elaborate columns, and a vaulted archway. The use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and grandeur, characteristic of set designs of this period. It highlights the popularity of classical architecture in the theater of the late 18th century, a time when the Neoclassical style was in vogue. This piece, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, provides a glimpse into the world of Italian stage design, as well as the artistic tastes of the era.