Interior of a Temple

c. 1750

Pierre Varin

Associated Names
Pierre Varin

Artist, French, active 1736 - 1753

This is a drawing of an elaborate architectural interior. The image depicts a grandiose space with high ceilings, ornate classical columns, and detailed stone carvings. The focal point is a large arch that frames a fountain or sculpture centerpiece, featuring a figure surrounded by decorative motifs. The drawing emphasizes perspective, guiding the viewer's eye through the arches and columns, providing a sense of depth. Architectural details such as the intricate moldings, the rounded symmetry of the upper windows, and the ornate capitals on the columns contribute to a Renaissance or neoclassical aesthetic. The drawing showcases a mastery of form and line, capturing the grandeur and complexity of the architecture with precision and artistic flair.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and black and gray ink with gray wash on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund

  • Dimensions

    overall: 28.6 x 27.8 cm (11 1/4 x 10 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1992.98.3


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

F. A. Bernett, Inc., Larchmont, NY; purchase by NGA, 1992

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower left in brown ink: P.VArin fécite; in reverse, upper center in gray ink: THE / ARTE; in reverse, lower right in gray ink: VA. Fecite

Wikidata ID

Q64619635

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