Elevation for a Building with an Octogonal Cupola and two stoy Pendimenting Facades 1700 - 1780

This drawing of a building with an octagonal cupola, was made on a sheet of paper, by an anonymous artist. The architect has used the simple medium of ink on paper, in a calculated and deliberate way, to present a formal design. The clean lines and precise details reflect architectural principles that have been carefully considered to define the building's form and function. The monochrome palette directs our attention to the geometric shapes, the play of light and shadow, and the overall harmony of the architectural design. Consider too, the amount of labor involved, from the production of the paper and ink, to the intellectual labor of design, and the physical labor required for construction. While the drawing is a conceptual work, the building itself depends on an entire workforce of miners, woodcutters, bricklayers, glaziers, and so on. This image invites us to reflect on the collaborative nature of architecture. Paying attention to the materials, the making, and the context, reveals the wider story of architecture, labor, and society embedded in this simple drawing.