The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario has introduced a new exhibit exploring the art and architecture of Early Modern Italy.
The exhibit, Embellishing Architecture: Italian drawings of architectural decorations and ornaments (1550-1800), which opened last week (September 8), runs until January 2, 2012.
According to the gallery website, the new exhibit "investigates the different ways Early Modern Italian artists engaged with architectural design through the creation – on paper – of ornamental and decorative motifs."
The collection includes many illustrated flourishes created for both sacred and secular interior design during the Early Modern period. The installation hopes to illustrate the importance of paper drawing, not only as an art form in its own right, but also as a part of decorative architectural design.
The National Gallery of Canada is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays until September 30; from October until May, the museum is closed on Mondays.