Study for the Decoration of a Vault (recto); Faint Sketches of Ornamental Patterns (verso)

Art Historical Context

Mauro Antonio Tesi, a Bolognese artist of the mid-18th, crafted this delicate *Study for the Decoration of a Vault* as a preparatory drawing for elaborate architectural ornamentation. Created with pen and brown ink over black chalk on the recto—showcasing precise, flowing designs for vaulted ceilings—and faint black chalk sketches of ornamental patterns on the verso, sheet measures 7 9/16 x 12 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it exemplifies Tesi's mastery in the Rococo style, blending fantasy with refined elegance. Tesi (1695–1766) was a key figure in Bologna's vibrant decorative arts scene, collaborating on frescoes and stucco work for churches and palaces like San Petronio. Such studies were essential blueprints for grand interiors, allowing artists to experiment with motifs like scrolls, foliage, and grotesques before committing to costly executions. This recto-verso format reveals his iterative process, where initial chalk outlines guided the ink's intricate hatching and cross-hatching for depth and texture. Today, this work highlights the intellectual rigor behind 18th-century opulence, inviting us to appreciate the hidden artistry in Europe's gilded vaults. A gift to the Met from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection in 1963, it remains a testament to Tesi's enduring influence on ornamental design.

About the Artist

Mauro Antonio Tesi · 1730–1766

Mauro Antonio Tesi, affectionately nicknamed "Il Maurino" by his patron Francesco Algarotti, was born on January 15, 1730, in the small town of Montalbano near Modena, Italy. Largely self-taught, Tesi honed his skills as a painter, draftsman, and engraver, establishing himself in Bologna where he became a prominent figure in the late-Baroque decorative arts scene. His early career focused on archi...