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Study for the Decoration of a Vault

1754–1815
Not on view
Baratta’s work represents a last flowering of the exuberant Genoese Baroque style toward the end of 
the eighteenth century. His steeply foreshortened figures grouped airily within framing architectural elements follow an earlier tradition of illusionistic fresco painting in Genoa. This carefully constructed ceiling design has been connected to Baratta’s fresco in the vault of the chapel of Saint Anne in the now-destroyed church of Santa Maria della Pace, in Genoa, which depicted Saint Anne in a glory of angels. The presence of King David, at lower right with his crown and harp, conflicts with written descriptions of the chapel’s decoration, so the identification remains speculative.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Study for the Decoration of a Vault
  • Artist: Carlo Alberto Baratta (Italian, Genoa 1754–1815 Genoa)
  • Date: 1754–1815
  • Medium: Brush with gray wash and gouache, highlighted with white and traces of light yellow, partly over traces of black chalk, on blue-green prepared paper, now faded
  • Dimensions: 9 15/16 x 16 in. (25.3 x 40.7 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Gifts in memory of Lawrence Turčić, 1988
  • Object Number: 1988.250
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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Jupiter and Juno: Study for the "Furti di Giove" Tapestries, Perino del Vaga (Pietro Buonaccorsi) Italian, Pen and dark brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash, highlighted with white gouache
Jupiter and Juno: Study for the "Furti di Giove" Tapestries
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Lucretia, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) Italian, Pen and brown ink over black chalk, partially incised with a stylus (recto); rubbed with black chalk for transfer (verso)
Lucretia
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Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso), Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia) Italian, Pen and brown ink, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (recto); pen and brown ink, brush with touches of brown wash, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (verso)
Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso)
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The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right, Leonardo da Vinci Italian, Black chalk, charcoal, and red chalk, with some traces of white chalk (?); some remains of framing lines in pen and brown ink at upper right (not by Leonardo)
The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right
Leonardo da Vinci
1510–13
Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti, Giovanni Paolo Panini Italian, Pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, watercolor, over graphite
Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti
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