Design for a Ceiling (recto); Bearded Man Standing (verso) is a dynamic study by the celebrated Venetian painter, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770). Classified as a drawing, the work utilizes pen and brown ink, coupled with brush and brown wash, executed over an underdrawing of black chalk. This layering technique, which combines the precision of chalk with the atmospheric depth of wash, characterizes the preparatory studies Tiepolo created for his monumental fresco commissions during the height of the Italian Rococo period.
The recto side presents a rapid but refined preliminary sketch for a large-scale ceiling fresco. Tiepolo uses light and shadow, rendered through the wash, to suggest dramatic movement and complex foreshortening, crucial for achieving the di sotto in sù (seen from below) illusionistic effects typical of Baroque ceiling decoration. The design likely incorporates allegorical figures and classical references, often supported by details such as armor and Weapons, signifying military prowess or heroic virtue essential to the patron’s identity. These drawings were vital for mapping out the complex composition before transfer to the final ceiling space.
The verso, a separate study featuring a Bearded Man Standing, is executed more quickly, using brush and brown wash over black chalk. This sketch focuses on the anatomical articulation of the figure, demonstrating Tiepolo’s reliance on academic studies of the Male Nudes to inform the dynamic poses of his allegorical and historical characters. This piece showcases the artist's dual mastery: the sophisticated architectural planning required for the recto, and the spontaneous anatomical observation evident on the verso. This important drawing is part of the extensive collection held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As this masterwork is aged, it resides in the public domain, allowing institutions and individuals worldwide access to high-quality reference prints for studying 18th-century Venetian draftsmanship.
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