Design for a Console or Capital with a Cherub 1652 - 1725

This drawing by Giovanni Battista Foggini is a design for a console or capital featuring a cherub, an example of the artist's expertise in decorative arts. The cherub, rendered in pen and ink, appears to be crying, creating a sense of pathos and adding a touch of emotional complexity to the decorative design. The elaborate scrollwork surrounding the cherub is characteristic of the Baroque style, showcasing a dynamic interplay of curves and counter-curves. This design, intended for an architectural element, would have graced interiors and exemplified the flourishing of the Baroque style in Italy during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.