Abbey of Sant’Antonio di Ranverso near Buttigliera Alta 1890

Giuseppe Barberis rendered this view of the Abbey of Sant’Antonio di Ranverso with ink around the turn of the 20th century. The work is defined by a meticulous, almost obsessive, attention to detail. The facade is presented frontally, emphasizing its symmetry and geometric complexity. Barberis meticulously renders the intricate brickwork and gothic arches, inviting us to consider the structure as a system of signs. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates tonal variation, though the image remains primarily linear, almost like an architectural blueprint. The drawing, however, is not merely a faithful representation. The perspective is slightly flattened, and the level of detail is heightened, transforming the abbey into a dense network of patterns. Barberis encourages us to engage with the architectural space not as a lived environment, but as a constructed visual field, a complex interplay of form and surface.