Design for a Cartouche 1652 - 1725

Giovanni Battista Foggini made this design for a cartouche using pen, brown ink, and brown wash on paper. Cartouches like these were often commissioned as decorative elements on buildings or furniture, designed to display a coat-of-arms or a family crest. This drawing shows the hand of the artist at work. You can see the quick, gestural lines of the pen, and the subtle shading achieved with the brown wash. The frame is ornate, typical of the Baroque period, showcasing Foggini's skill in capturing complex forms with simple materials. Drawings like these offer insight into the labor of design. The cost of raw materials is relatively low but the value resides in the knowledge and skill of the artist. Foggini was not just a draftsman but a sculptor; his ability to think in three dimensions is evident in the way he has rendered the cartouche. Ultimately, this small drawing illuminates the intersection of art, craft, and commerce in 18th-century Italy.