Design for a Vessel
1652-1725
Giovanni Battista Foggini, the premier designer for the Medici court in Florence, sketched this incredibly ornate vessel that looks like it belongs in a royal palace. The drawing features a tall, bulbous vase perched atop a wide, shallow bowl, both covered in swirling acanthus leaves and fancy scrolls typical of the dramatic Baroque style. It’s likely a design proposal for a silver or bronze masterpiece, showing off the kind of over-the-top luxury the 17th-century elite loved. The little '183' scribbled on the side hints that this was just one page in a massive catalog of extravagant ideas.
Views: 3