Artwork

Floor Plan [verso]

Floor Plan [verso], by Filippo Juvarra, chalk, 1707
Floor Plan [verso], by Filippo Juvarra, chalk, 1707

Floor Plan [verso] is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Filippo Juvarra. It dates from 1707 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Floor Plan [verso] is a drawing by Filippo Juvarra, dated 1707, executed in pen and brown ink with gray wash over black chalk on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a top-down view of a building with an unconventional, cross-like layout featuring rounded corners and protruding arms, incorporating a central courtyard and a smaller semicircular space above it.

Technique & Style

Characterized by precise lines, dark ink, and gray wash, the drawing emphasizes the building's walls against a light background, reflecting a functional approach typical of architectural planning during the Baroque period.

History & Provenance

Created by Juvarra as a practical tool for builders to understand the intended layout prior to construction, highlighting the drawing's utilitarian origins alongside its artistic execution.

Context

Aligned with Baroque architectural tendencies, the work showcases dramatic spatial compositions, though its primary purpose was pragmatic rather than aesthetic display.

Legacy

While the drawing's direct influence is not broadly documented, it exemplifies Juvarra's contribution to Baroque architectural planning, with its style and functionality reflective of the era's building practices.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.