This is a drawing of a neoclassical building facade with columns and a clock tower. The drawing presents a symmetrical architectural design with detailed elements. The central part of the building features a prominent entrance flanked by four large columns in the Corinthian order, which support an entablature adorned with classic friezes. Above the entablature rests a clock tower with a dome. The lower portions include arched openings and niches containing sculptures or reliefs. The left side of the drawing shows additional segmentations, suggesting window placements, while the right side is faded. The meticulous linework and use of shadows enhance the depth and dimensionality, emphasizing the structure's grandeur and classical inspiration.
Read the visual description

This is a drawing of a neoclassical building facade with columns and a clock tower. The drawing presents a symmetrical architectural design with detailed elements. The central part of the building features a prominent entrance flanked by four large columns in the Corinthian order, which support an entablature adorned with classic friezes. Above the entablature rests a clock tower with a dome. The lower portions include arched openings and niches containing sculptures or reliefs. The left side of the drawing shows additional segmentations, suggesting window placements, while the right side is faded. The meticulous linework and use of shadows enhance the depth and dimensionality, emphasizing the structure's grandeur and classical inspiration.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Architectural Study

Giuseppe Valeriani

Date
mid-18th century
Medium
pen and black ink with gray and brown wash over graphite on laid paper, with the cupola redrawn on a separate piece of paper and pasted down
Dimensions
sheet: 29.8 × 50.2 cm (11 3/4 × 19 3/4 in.) (irregular)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2018.26.26
Credit line
The Edith Tanenbaum Rudolf Collection
Time span
1726 to 1750
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • architecture
Provenance

(Zeitlin & Ver Brugge, Los Angeles); Mr. and Mrs. William Rudolf, New York, 1976; gift to NGA in 2018

Inscription

by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: Italian... [not deciphered] / ...1720

Watermarks

LG(?) (partially legible)

NGA object ID 213167. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.