Sheet of Studies: Five Angels (recto); Youth in Clerical Robes and Other Studies (verso)

The Sheet of Studies: Five Angels (recto); Youth in Clerical Robes and Other Studies (verso) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo offers compelling insight into the dynamic draftsmanship of the prolific Venetian master. Created between 1696 and 1770, this composite work demonstrates the artist's facility across varying subjects and techniques. The recto features the Five Angels, executed with careful application of pen and brown ink, complemented by extensive brush and brown wash to render volume and ethereal softness. These preparatory drawings likely served as early ideas for the vast religious frescoes and altarpieces that defined Tiepolo’s career throughout the 18th century. The subtle use of wash provides a necessary depth for the figures, capturing the light and movement characteristic of the late Baroque period.

The verso presents distinct figure studies, spontaneously rendered using both brown and black ink. Among these are quick depictions of a Youth in Clerical Robes and several energetic sketches of Male Nudes, focusing primarily on anatomical poses and the flow of drapery. Such rapid studies of Male Nudes were fundamental to an academic artist’s practice, ensuring accuracy for figures deployed in complex narrative scenes. The piece is classified as a drawing, emphasizing the immediate vitality of Tiepolo’s penwork across both sides. This drawing is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a key example of the master’s working methods. As the artwork is firmly established in the public domain, high-resolution digital copies are widely accessible for scholarly examination.