Artwork
Design for an Inlaid Circular Table Top, with Alternatives
Design for an Inlaid Circular Table Top, with Alternatives is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Italian 18th Century. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This drawing presents a design for a circular table top, rendered in pen and gray ink with washes over graphite on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
This drawing presents a design for a circular table top, rendered in pen and gray ink with washes over graphite on laid paper. The intricate composition features a central starburst pattern surrounded by curved sections and a scalloped border.
Subject & Meaning
The design showcases a symmetrical yet varied arrangement, with each quarter of the circle repeating a pattern of vines, leaves, and ovals with subtle differences. The artist's use of repetition and variation creates a sense of balance and visual interest.
Technique & Style
The drawing employs a range of techniques, including cross-hatching, to achieve a soft, muted effect through gray ink and washes. The use of graphite underdrawing is also evident, suggesting a careful and deliberate creative process.
Artist & collection
Artist
This Italian artist carved bronze figures in the 18th century, blending myth and motion in metal.
![Design for a Wall of a Music Room [recto], by Italian 18th Century](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/italian-18th-century--design-for-a-wall-of-a-music-room-recto--1582534309a804bd-w320.webp)
An oval with scenes of the Metamorphoses: The Rape of Europa, the peasants turned into frogs, The Fall of Icarus, Glaucus and Scylla
Design for a Ceiling
Design for the cupola room at Kensington Palace
An Ornate Ceiling with an Allegory of Spring
Goblet Design
Sixth Knot
Untitled
Design for the decoration of the underside of a tazza
A Coffered Dome with Apollo and Phaeton