Proscenium Arch of a Court Theater 18th century

This drawing of a proscenium arch was made with pen and brown ink, and gray wash over graphite on paper. We don’t know who the artist was, but the skilled hand at work here reminds us of the close relationship between drawing and design. This stage set captures the mood of Baroque theatre, with its emphasis on opulence and grandeur. The architecture of the proscenium arch is elaborate, but the drawing itself is relatively spare. There is no color, which draws our attention to the artist’s technique, and the linear precision required to capture the weight and the form of the construction. Notice, too, the soft rendering of the drapes, suggesting their textural qualities, and the detail on the chandeliers, giving a sense of their reflective materiality. Looking closely, you might consider this drawing not just as a record of a theatrical space, but also as a proposal, perhaps a pitch to wealthy patrons. The production of drawings like this, and the labor that goes into them, were vital to the broader culture of spectacle in its day.