One of Twenty-Three Sheets of Drawings of Glassware (Mirrors, Chandeliers, Goblets, etc.) 1850 - 1880

This watercolor drawing of glassware comes from a set of twenty-three sheets produced by the Compagnia di Venezia e Murano. The symmetrical tiered structure of a chandelier is rendered with delicate washes of color. The composition emphasizes a vertical axis, giving it a sense of formality. The drawing's linear quality is striking. The use of line here defines the object's form. The drawing employs transparency, which is an essential feature for representing glass. The added flowers destabilize the clean geometry of the chandelier. These decorations are not just ornamental; they subtly question the boundaries between functional design and artistic expression. Notice how the chandelier's design embraces complexity through its multi-tiered arrangement and the intricate detailing of garlands. It invites us to consider the semiotic interplay between form and decoration and the fluid boundary between the practical and the ornamental. The image challenges fixed meanings, engaging new ways of thinking about space, perception, and representation.