Design for an Overdoor with a Bust 1652 - 1725

Giovanni Battista Foggini sketched "Design for an Overdoor with a Bust" using pen and brown ink on paper. Foggini occupied an interesting position in Florentine society. As a court sculptor to the Medici family, his work was deeply entwined with their power. This drawing gives us a glimpse into the world of Baroque design, which served to legitimize and enhance aristocratic identity. The grandiosity of the overdoor, crowned with a bust, speaks to the period’s emphasis on status and the theatrical display of wealth. The design suggests more than mere decoration; it implies a statement about who is allowed to pass through that door. The 'bust' alludes to classical traditions, yet it's presented in a way that caters to the tastes of the 17th and 18th-century elite, embedding complex social meanings within its curves and lines. It’s a reminder that even seemingly innocuous designs can be powerful markers of social hierarchy.