A Grand Illusionistic Ceiling

1720/1740

Ferdinando Galli Bibiena

Associated Names
Ferdinando Galli Bibiena

Artist, Bolognese, 1657 - 1743

This is a drawing of a highly detailed architectural design reminiscent of Baroque or Renaissance ceilings. It features ornate panels, ceremonial motifs, and sculptural embellishments. The drawing includes multiple roundels and medallions depicting allegoric figures and intricate floral designs. The central ceiling painting shows a sky with mythical figures, creating a sense of depth and grandeur typical of trompe-l'oeil painting. The drawing is in grayscale and may have been created as a preliminary study for a mural or fresco.

Media Options

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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy and King of Sardinia or his son, Charles Emmanuel III; (E.V. Thaw and Co., New York); purchased by NGA, 1994.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1995

  • Recent Acquisitions of Works of Art on Paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1995.

2000

  • Art for the Nation: Collecting for a New Century, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2000-2001, 178.

2023

  • Looking Up: Studies for Ceilings, 1550-1800, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2023.

Wikidata ID

Q64561449

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