Two Stags, One Standing and One Lying, on a Grassy Knoll (with a Base) 1770 - 1804

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo created this drawing with pen and brown wash, featuring two stags, one standing and one lying, on a grassy knoll. The monochromatic palette emphasizes form and texture, creating a sense of depth and volume. The composition is carefully structured. The knoll acts as a stage, elevating the stags, while the base grounds them within the picture plane. The standing stag’s verticality contrasts with the horizontal repose of the lying one, establishing a dynamic interplay of lines. This contrast highlights the transient nature of vitality versus the stillness of rest or perhaps even death. Tiepolo's use of wash is particularly striking. It's a visual language that invites us to reflect on themes of nature, representation, and the transient states of being.