Design for Ceiling with Allegorical Figure of Astronomy. 1605 - 1615

Giovanni Battista Crespi, known as Il Cerano, created this design for a ceiling with an allegorical figure of astronomy, likely in the early 17th century. Executed in pen and brown ink with gray wash over black chalk, the drawing presents a complex interplay of circular and curvilinear forms. These shapes create a sense of both containment and expansion. The central allegorical figure, framed within a circle, anchors the composition. Around it, alternating motifs of decorative stars, angelic faces, and floral patterns emerge from the geometry. Cerano uses tonal variations of gray wash to define each form, which adds depth and dimension to the otherwise flat surface. The drawing plays with Renaissance ideals, where classical forms and allegorical figures convey intellectual concepts. However, its intricate patterns and use of contrasting forms also hint at the emerging Baroque style, characterized by complexity and dynamism. The tension between these aesthetics positions the work within a historical and philosophical context where established orders were being challenged and reinterpreted through artistic expression.