A Standing Oriental Holding a Rod

A Standing Oriental Holding a Rod by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a powerful drawing executed between 1753 and 1762. This Italian masterwork utilizes pen and brown ink with a skillful application of brown wash on laid paper, classifying it as a foundational study or modello rather than a final painting. The figure, positioned frontally and clutching a long rod, is rendered with quick, economical strokes, defining the profile and posture. Tiepolo employs the broad application of the brown wash technique to define the folds of the elaborate costume, giving the form volume and creating the dramatic contrasts characteristic of the late Baroque and Rococo sensibilities dominant during the period 1751 to 1775.

The portrayal of exotic figures, often referred to as ‘Turks’ or ‘Orientals,’ was a common motif in 18th-century Venetian art, reflecting the city’s historic trade connections and the contemporary fascination with costume. Tiepolo frequently incorporated such characters into his larger compositions, utilizing their distinctive dress and accessories to enrich historical, mythological, or religious scenes and provide visual texture. This study in particular highlights the artist’s technical mastery of monochromatic draftsmanship, relying solely on the relationship between light and shadow provided by the ink and wash.

This drawing, valued for its immediate vitality and precise execution, offers direct insight into the preparatory process of the prolific Venetian draftsman. Tiepolo’s quick method of sketching figures provided a vital resource he could return to across multiple commissions. A Standing Oriental Holding a Rod is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a key example of the master’s drawing style. Due to the museum’s commitment to access, high-quality digital records and prints of this specific drawing are often made available for scholarly study.