Two Allegorical Figures for a Ceiling

Two Allegorical Figures for a Ceiling is a dynamic preparatory drawing executed by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1734. The work, classified as a drawing, was created using pen and brown ink and extensive brown wash applied over an initial sketch of black chalk. This layering technique provides both definition and dramatic shadow, lending the required depth and momentum for a grand architectural commission, likely a ceiling fresco intended for a Venetian palazzo or important church.

Tiepolo specialized in creating grand, illusionistic ceiling designs during the 18th century, adapting the conventions of Italian Baroque painting to late-stage Venetian tastes. This study focuses on a rapidly moving allegorical scene, featuring powerful men and graceful women, often accompanied by putti or children that help complete the symbolic narrative. The careful application of brown wash over the preliminary black chalk sketches creates a powerful sense of atmospheric depth and volume, crucial for figures meant to be viewed in sharp foreshortening from below. The mastery of light and shadow in this work demonstrates the artist’s crucial preparation for the final, monumental canvas.

This study exemplifies the highly refined draftsmanship that made Tiepolo one of the most sought-after decorators in Europe. The piece is part of the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it serves as a key example of 18th-century Italian drawing. As a historical artwork created nearly three centuries ago, it resides in the public domain, making high-resolution reproductions and prints widely accessible for scholarly research and artistic appreciation.