Wall Decoration 1500 - 1600

This pen and brown ink drawing depicts a wall decoration, its creator currently unknown. The design reveals much about the cultural values of its time, likely during the Renaissance or Baroque periods. We can see the influence of classical antiquity, visible in the figures flanking the design and the symmetrical arrangement of the architectural elements. This interest in classical forms and motifs reflects the humanistic ideals of the period and the status of art institutions. The drawing is designed to accommodate paintings or sculptures. This tells us about the importance of displaying art as a symbol of wealth, knowledge and power. The rigid formality of the design, suggestive of aristocratic patronage, perhaps speaks to an attempt to affirm social hierarchy. Historical archives and collections of similar drawings would provide insight into the specific time and place of its creation. The interpretation of art is always dependent on social and institutional context.