Looking Up: Studies for Ceilings, 1550–1800

Ferdinando Galli Bibiena, A Grand Illusionistic Ceiling, 1720/1740, pen and brown ink with gray and brown washes over graphite on laid paper, Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund and an Anonymous Donor, 1994.73.1

Pietro Fancelli, Studies of Aurora and Apollo, 1794, pen and brown ink, squared for transfer, William B. O'Neal Fund, 2005.126.1.b

Andrea Pozzo, Illusionistic Architecture for the Vault of San Ignazio, 1685/1690, pen and gray and brown ink with gray wash on two joined sheets of heavy laid paper, Gift of Robert M. and Anne T. Bass, 1994.16.1

Johann Georg Dieffenbrunner, The Stoning of Saint Stephen, 1754, pen and black ink with watercolor over traces of graphite on laid paper, Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2007.111.64

Taddeo Zuccaro, A Man Seen from Behind [recto], c. 1555, red chalk heightened with white on laid paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1972.4.2.a

Anton Kern, A Ceiling with Apollo Presiding over Military and Historical Learning, 1740s, watercolor, pen and gray ink over traces of black chalk on laid paper, Diane Allen Nixon and Ailsa Mellon Bruce and Professor William B. O'Neal Funds, 2005.80.1

Felice Giani, A Coffered Dome with Apollo and Phaeton, c. 1787, pen and brown ink with gray, blue, and pink washes over black chalk on wove paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1991.81.1

Giulio Cesare Procaccini, Ceiling Studies of a Prophet and a Putto Seen from Below, c. 1602/1607, oiled black chalk or charcoal, heightened with white chalk on blue-green laid paper, Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2007.111.147

François Boucher, Aurora Heralding the Arrival of the Morning Sun, c. 1765, brown and black chalk with stumping, heightened with white chalk on buff laid paper, Gift of Dian Woodner, 2006.168.1

Charles de La Fosse, Angels and Putti Flying with a Garland: Design for a Ceiling, c. 1675, red and black chalk with touches of white chalk, squared in black chalk on light gray paper (formerly blue), with later framing line in brown ink, Gift of Donald Stone, 2022.40.23