Two Monks with a Prostrate Man

"Two Monks with a Prostrate Man," created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo around 1725, is a significant and evocative example of the artist's masterful draftsmanship. This powerful Italian drawing utilizes pen and brown ink, strengthened by a rich application of brown wash and supplementary gray wash, applied over an initial sketch executed in black chalk on laid paper. The paper itself has been professionally laid down to ensure preservation.

The composition centers on two cloaked figures, presumably religious men, standing over a third figure lying prone on the ground. The arrangement suggests a moment of intense drama or spiritual significance, perhaps depicting an act of religious penitence, judgment, or compassionate aid. Tiepolo's signature technique is evident in the swift, confident strokes of the pen and the sophisticated handling of the washes, which rapidly define volume, depth, and the texture of the heavy drapery. The interplay of brown and gray washes provides vital tonal contrast, giving the scene a three-dimensional immediacy.

This work dates precisely to the period between 1701 to 1725, a critical time when Tiepolo was cementing his reputation and developing the theatrical lightness that would come to define the Venetian Rococo movement. The immediacy of the technique suggests it may have served as a preliminary modello or detailed study, refining the poses and interaction of figures intended for a larger painted commission. Today, the work is carefully preserved within the vast graphic arts collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. As with many works from the period, high-quality archival prints of this expressive drawing are frequently made available through resources recognizing its status as a core piece of the public domain, offering broad access to Tiepolo’s foundational skill.