Design for a Catafalque (recto); Female Saint Kneeling on Clouds under an Arch, and a Design for the Pinnacle of the Catafalque (verso) 1664 - 1674

This is Baldassarre Franceschini’s, or il Volterrano’s, Design for a Catafalque, made in the 17th century in Italy using pen and brown ink with brown wash. Volterrano created this drawing during the Baroque period, when the Catholic Church sought to reassert its power through dramatic and emotionally charged art. Catafalques, which are raised platforms or structures supporting a coffin, were used during funerals to honor high-ranking members of society. Volterrano's design includes elaborate architectural details, such as columns, arches, and decorative sculptures. On the back there is an image of a kneeling female saint under an arch. Volterrano's catafalque design merges religious piety with aristocratic display. This resonates with the complex social dynamics of Baroque Italy, where religious devotion and secular power were often intertwined. While celebrating the deceased, such structures also reinforced the existing social hierarchy, underscoring who was remembered and revered in society. The emotional impact of death is thus carefully managed through prescribed artistic forms.