Two Women, One Holding an Anchor, and a Putto on Clouds

The detailed drawing, Two Women, One Holding an Anchor, and a Putto on Clouds by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, showcases the artist’s characteristic rapid handling of line and wash. Created between 1696 and 1770, this 18th-century Italian work exemplifies the vibrant draftsmanship associated with the Venetian Rococo period. Tiepolo executed the piece using pen and brown ink, brush with pale (yellow) and dark brown wash, layered over preliminary black chalk. This technical layering highlights the artist's skill in modeling figures and creating atmospheric luminosity, often necessary qualities for studies intended for monumental fresco cycles.

The composition features two prominent female figures resting upon a dynamic bank of clouds, immediately identifying the scene as celestial or allegorical. One woman clearly grasps an anchor, a traditional attribute symbolizing the virtue of Hope, suggesting this piece is a study of personified Virtues. The inclusion of a youthful putto fluttering nearby further links the subject matter to mythological or divine narratives, a recurring element in Tiepolo's expansive repertoire. The artist masterfully defines the volumes of the women and the swirling density of the clouds through the contrast between the subtle pale yellow wash and the powerful strokes of dark brown ink.

This exceptional example of Tiepolo’s preparation and technique is held in the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a leading figure of the Venetian school, Tiepolo’s works are continually studied worldwide for their compositional ingenuity and innovative use of light. To facilitate scholarly examination, many drawings by Tiepolo, especially those related to allegorical subjects and monumental commissions, are now accessible as high-resolution digital prints, frequently entering the public domain, allowing wider appreciation of the master’s drawing process.