Design for Corner of a Cove (recto); Designs for a Ceiling (?) (verso) 1700 - 1780

This design for the corner of a cove and ceiling was made on paper with pen and brown ink, with some red chalk. The drawing offers a glimpse into the world of architectural design and its relationship to social class. Made by an anonymous artist, this piece reflects the cultural values of the time, in which wealthy patrons sought to express their status and taste through ornate, elaborate architectural details in their homes and palaces. Visual codes, such as the flowing, organic lines of the rocaille, are employed to evoke a sense of luxury and refinement, in line with elite aesthetics. The drawing also provides insight into the institutional history of architectural training and practice. It invites us to consider the role of the architect or designer as a skilled craftsman who translated the desires of their wealthy clients into tangible forms. To understand it better, we can look to design pattern books and architectural treatises from the time.