Knielende heiligen Nicolaas en Dominicus bij een ten hemel varende Maria

Knielende heiligen Nicolaas en Dominicus bij een ten hemel varende Maria by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a masterful example of 18th-century Venetian drawing, executed during the artist’s prolific career spanning 1706-1770. Created using ink and chalk on paper, this drawing likely served as a preparatory study for a major altarpiece or fresco cycle, a common practice for the leading Rococo painter. The technique expertly utilizes dynamic contrasts between light and shadow, employing bold linear strokes that articulate the figures and guide the viewer’s eye upwards toward the divine light.

The subject matter depicts the veneration of the Virgin Mary, shown ascending to heaven (ten hemel varende Maria). Below, the two titular figures, Saint Nicholas and Saint Dominic, kneel in positions of humble prayer and reverence. This compositional structure, which places earthly saints beneath a miraculous celestial event, was characteristic of grand devotional art commissioned in the Italian Baroque and Rococo periods. Tiepolo often employed such theatrical arrangements to convey spiritual ecstasy and emphasize divine glory through the reactions of mortal witnesses.

This exceptional work is held in the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, offering valuable insight into the working methods and draftsmanship of the famed Italian master. As a historically significant piece, the drawing demonstrates the quality that made Tiepolo one of the most sought-after artists in 18th-century Europe. Due to its historical status, the imagery remains highly influential, and high-quality prints derived from the original artwork are frequently available within the public domain for educational study and artistic appreciation.