Funerary Monument Inscribed "Poesia Muta"
n.d.
Medium
Pen and brown ink, and brush and brown wash, on cream laid paper
Dimensions
24.7 × 17.5 cm (9 3/4 × 6 15/16 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
3384
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings collection, *Funerary Monument In "Poesia Muta"* is a delicate yet evocative pen and brown ink drawing heightened with brush and brown wash cream laid paper. Measuring 24.7 × 17.5 cm, this intimate work by an unknown artist captures the architectural form of a tomb or memorial, crowned with the intriguing Latin inscription "Poesia Muta"—translating to "Silent Poetry." This phrase, rooted in classical antiquity, evokes the ancient idea of visual arts as a wordless counterpart to poetry, suggesting the monument honors creativity in its qu...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...