Foreshortening of a Library 1728 - 1778

Carlo Galli Bibiena made this drawing of a library, sometime in the 18th century, using pen and brown ink, with gray wash over black chalk. Look closely, and you’ll see the skill required to create this illusionistic space. The architectural details, from the towering columns to the ornate bookshelves, are rendered with precision. Note the use of hatching and shading to create depth and volume. It is important to remember that architecture like this demands the labor of quarrymen, masons, and carvers. This drawing may be “only” ink on paper, yet it represents a staggering amount of work to realize in three dimensions. And consider too, the social context: libraries like this were symbols of wealth and knowledge, accessible only to a privileged few. Bibiena, through his artistry, offered a glimpse into this exclusive world, but also reminds us of the many hands required to build it. So while this work is ostensibly a drawing, it embodies craft, design and materiality.