Giuseppe Galli Bibiena
1695-1757
Rotunda set within a Proscenium Arch
19 7/16 x 23 3/16 inches (494 x 590 mm)
Pen and brown ink, with brown wash, on paper.
1982.75:116
Gift of Mrs. Donald M. Oenslager, 1982.
Notes
Franz Rapp considers this drawing "apparently the work of Francesco, who designed the Vienna Opera House of 1700".
The attribution of drawings by the Bibiena family and their circle is a famously difficult matter, and this drawing presents a notable case of how scholarly opinion may vary, as noted by Donald Oenslager (Oenslager 1985, 64). Janos Scholz (1949) attributed it to Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, but Franz Rapp (1951), in a review of Scholz's book, gave it to Francesco, an attribution supported by Richard Wunder (1963) and (with some hesitation) by Diane Kelder (1968). Muraro and Polvedo (1970) return it to Giuseppe, an attribution also endorsed by Oenslager. Kelder later (2000, 115) returned to the earlier attribution as well, discussing the drawing as "attributed to Giuseppe." A smaller replica of this drawing is at the Tiroler Landesmuseum at Innsbruck (inv. A 3), attributed to Giuseppe.
The attribution of drawings by the Bibiena family and their circle is a famously difficult matter, and this drawing presents a notable case of how scholarly opinion may vary, as noted by Donald Oenslager (Oenslager 1985, 64). Janos Scholz (1949) attributed it to Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, but Franz Rapp (1951), in a review of Scholz's book, gave it to Francesco, an attribution supported by Richard Wunder (1963) and (with some hesitation) by Diane Kelder (1968). Muraro and Polvedo (1970) return it to Giuseppe, an attribution also endorsed by Oenslager. Kelder later (2000, 115) returned to the earlier attribution as well, discussing the drawing as "attributed to Giuseppe." A smaller replica of this drawing is at the Tiroler Landesmuseum at Innsbruck (inv. A 3), attributed to Giuseppe.
Associated names
Piancastelli, Giovanni, 1845-1926, former owner.
Brandegee, Edward, former owner.
Brandegee, Mary, former owner.
Scholz, János, former owner.
Oenslager, Donald, 1902-1975, former owner.
Brandegee, Edward, former owner.
Brandegee, Mary, former owner.
Scholz, János, former owner.
Oenslager, Donald, 1902-1975, former owner.
Bibliography
"The Art Bulletin," (Dec. 1951) "Review of Baroque and Romantic Stage Design," by Franz Rapp.
Heinan, G., and R. Freud. Theatre Pictorial. Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1953.
Heinan, G., and R. Freud. Theatre Pictorial. Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1953.
Artist
Classification
Century Drawings
School
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