Hemelbed, ornamentele rand en bankje 1817

Pietro Ruga created this undated drawing, depicting a canopy bed, ornamental border, and bench. The sketch evokes classical designs, indicative of a revival of interest in classical antiquity which began in the Renaissance and was fully fledged by the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, Europe saw profound social changes linked to industrialization, urbanization, and shifting class structures. In the decorative arts and interior design, classicism became linked with status and ideas of empire and order. Consider the bed. A personal space, often associated with private moments of rest and intimacy, it also holds a powerful relationship to the theater of social life, and it is interesting that Ruga included it here as an aspirational element in furnishing a home. Through its design and ornamentation this drawing provides insight into the values and aspirations of its time. It echoes both a yearning for a romanticized past and the consolidation of new social hierarchies.