Bed voor een wand met draperie 1817

Pietro Ruga made this drawing of a bed for a wall with drapery with pen in ink. Here we see the artist's vision of private domestic space. Although the artwork is undated, its clear references to Greco-Roman classicism situate it in the late 18th or early 19th century, during the height of Neoclassical enthusiasm in Europe. Note the carved pilasters, the symmetry of the composition, and the emphasis on line over color. All of these elements show the desire for a return to the perceived simplicity and elegance of the ancient world. It's no accident that such an aesthetic flourished in tandem with the rise of democratic republics in the West. The leaders of these new republics consciously identified with the republican ideals of ancient Greece and Rome, and they sought to emulate the art and architecture of those cultures. To learn more, we might consult period publications on interior design and social history, looking for clues about the intended function and meaning of spaces like these.