Designs for Palatial Staircases [recto]
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
![Designs for Palatial Staircases [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/e49f5f8955b9d67b/full.webp)
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows three grand staircases drawn in ink. The lines are quick and messy, like rough notes. Some steps spiral, others split into two directions. At the top of one, there’s a small figure—maybe a person—standing on the landing. The paper looks old, with faint marks showing through. The artist filled every inch with ideas, even scribbling tiny details in the corners. It’s not polished—just raw plans for something big. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with lines.
![Designs for Palatial Arches [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/07f8f4d11d000c62/thumb.webp)
![Figures on a Monumental Interior Stairway [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/6662e6de2172f65b/thumb.webp)
