Winged Putto Crowning a Seated Woman Who Looks to the Left

Winged Putto Crowning a Seated Woman Who Looks to the Left by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is an expressive drawing dating from the artist's highly productive career (1696-1770). The work is executed in pen and brown ink, skillfully enhanced by a brush with pale and dark brown wash, applied over an initial sketch in black chalk. This meticulous layering of media, characteristic of 18th-century Italian draftsmanship, allows Tiepolo to articulate form and light with energetic contrast and textural depth.

Tiepolo, the preeminent painter of the Venetian Rococo, specialized in grand mythological and allegorical narratives. This particular drawing depicts an intimate, yet symbolic, scene. The seated woman is positioned prominently, looking sharply to the left with an air of dignified expectation. Above her, a putto or winged cherubic figure descends to place a crown upon her head, suggesting themes of divine favor, victory, or perhaps the personification of a classical virtue. The integration of women and putti in dynamic compositions was a hallmark of the artist's style, often used to conceptualize complex religious or historical ideas.

This significant drawing, which clearly showcases the fluid draftsmanship of Tiepolo, is part of the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The rapid execution and confident handling of the wash medium demonstrate Tiepolo’s technical mastery even in these smaller studies. As a historical work from a celebrated European master, this piece often enters the public domain, ensuring that high-quality fine art prints are widely accessible for scholarship and personal appreciation.