1/4 Design for a Painted Ceiling, with the Arms of a Cardinal in the Corner 1700 - 1780

This anonymous 18th-century drawing, titled "1/4 Design for a Painted Ceiling, with the Arms of a Cardinal in the Corner," is a preparatory sketch for a larger decorative work. The detailed pen-and-ink drawing features a complex, layered design of architectural elements and figures, likely for a ceiling fresco. The sketch's focus on a corner indicates its function as part of a larger composition, and the inclusion of heraldic arms suggests a commission for a church or other religious institution. The artist's meticulous rendering of the design highlights the importance of architectural decoration during the Baroque period.