One of the Hours Holding the Bridle of a Horse of the Sun, and Other Figures

One of the Hours Holding the Bridle of a Horse of the Sun, and Other Figures by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a dynamic drawing executed in pen and brown ink with extensive brown wash, characteristic of the artist's preparatory studies. Created between 1747 and 1756, this work exemplifies the dramatic energy of the Venetian Rococo, reflecting Tiepolo’s masterful technique in rapidly conceptualizing large-scale frescoes. The application of the warm brown wash provides strong definition to the mythological forms, suggesting the deep shadows and brilliant highlights crucial for the illusionistic effects required in celestial ceiling compositions.

The subject matter draws directly from Classical mythology, focusing on the powerful image of an attendant, or Hour figure, restraining one of the vigorous celestial Horses associated with Apollo’s chariot, a frequent motif in monumental Baroque and Rococo cycles. The inclusion of other robust Men contributes to the dynamic, upward thrust of the scene, typical of designs intended for sotto in sù (seen from below) perspective. Tiepolo’s fluid and energetic pen work captures the strenuous effort of the figures and the powerful movement of the animals with economy and precision. This spirited drawing, classified as a study, resides within the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given the historical significance of this 18th-century masterwork and the institution’s policies, the image is often made available in the public domain for research, allowing high-quality prints to be utilized by scholars worldwide.