Seated Youth Leaning Against an Urn

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, published 1785

This is a drawing of a group of figures around a large ornate urn. The scene shows figures in various relaxed poses, with some leaning against the urn, which is decorated with a sculptural face. The background includes architectural elements like columns or pillars, and a fragment resembling a building or wall. The figures wear attire that suggests historical or theatrical costumes, adding to a sense of drama. The line work shows attention to detail in rendering texture and depth on both human forms and objects. The use of shadows and cross-hatching adds three-dimensionality to the drawing. A landscape with hints of vegetation and a distant horizon is visible behind the figures.
Artist
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Date
published 1785
Type
Print
Medium
etching on laid paper
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

This is a drawing of a group of figures around a large ornate urn. The scene shows figures in various relaxed poses, with some leaning against the urn, which is decorated with a sculptural face. The background includes architectural elements like columns or pillars, and a fragment resembling a building or wall. The figures wear attire that suggests historical or theatrical costumes, adding to a sense of drama. The line work shows attention to detail in rendering texture and depth on both human forms and objects. The use of shadows and cross-hatching adds three-dimensionality to the drawing. A landscape with hints of vegetation and a distant horizon is visible behind the figures.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo