Elevation of a Catafalque, Surmounted by a Royal Crown, with Scull and Cross Bones in Wreath-Encircled Cartouche just below 1696 - 1756

Giuseppe Galli Bibiena made this drawing of a catafalque, a decorated platform for a coffin, using pen and brown ink with gray wash. The result is a monochrome study that renders an ephemeral structure with highly ornamental qualities. The design is suffused with implied labor. The catafalque would have been constructed in wood, sculpted with incredible detail, then painted and gilded to resemble marble and gold. The production of the catafalque would require carving skills but also knowledge of trompe-l'oeil, as the actual materials would have been disguised. The structure resembles stage architecture, and Bibiena came from a family of theater designers, known for their scenography for royal events. The catafalque has symbolic meaning as well. A skull and crossbones are displayed beneath a royal crown; a reminder of the transience of earthly power. The drawing acts as a record and as a conceptual exploration of the design. By giving attention to the making, materials, and social context, we can come to a more complete understanding of the work.