Standing Woman Holding a Hoop

Standing Woman Holding a Hoop by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a compelling example of 18th-century Italian draftsmanship, executed between 1739 and 1760. This powerful drawing utilizes pen and brown ink combined with expressive brown wash, a signature technique of the artist used to define form through dramatic light and shadow. The composition centers on a solitary woman standing elegantly, her figure rendered in quick, assured lines. She holds a large hoop, lending the subject a statuesque yet dynamic quality that is characteristic of Tiepolo’s approach to figural studies.

The vigorous application of the brown wash defines the weighty folds of the woman’s classical drapery and creates a profound sense of depth, typical of the Late Baroque and Rococo periods in Venice. Tiepolo often employed such wash drawings either as preparatory studies for his celebrated ceiling frescoes or as independent works intended for discerning collectors. This focus on a single standing woman allows the artist to study gesture and movement with minimal background distraction, ensuring the viewer’s attention remains fixed on the figure and the powerful lines defining her presence.

This piece, classified simply as a drawing, remains an invaluable record of Tiepolo’s graphic output during a highly productive period of his career, showcasing his economy of line and masterful tonal control. It resides within the comprehensive collection of drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. High-quality prints of the Standing Woman Holding a Hoop are frequently made available through resources derived from the public domain, allowing broader access to the genius of Tiepolo's sketches and his sensitive depictions of women.