Masker c. 1785 - 1800

Giuseppe Valadier created this drawing, "Masker," sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, using pen and brown ink with watercolor washes over graphite on laid paper. The drawing depicts a grotesque mask surrounded by an oval of stylized fruit. The ink and watercolor give the mask and surrounding ornamentation a sense of depth and shadow, while the graphite underdrawing provides a delicate, precise structure. Note the way the fruit is linked together, suggesting a chain, and the ribbons that flank it. Valadier was a renowned Roman silversmith and designer. He clearly had a strong command of classical ornament. The drawing might be a preparatory study for a larger decorative scheme, perhaps intended for execution in stucco or fresco. But we can also appreciate the drawing for itself, as a demonstration of Valadier's mastery of line, and his ability to evoke a range of textures and effects with relatively simple means. It’s a reminder that even the most polished finished product usually depends on a great deal of skilled labor behind the scenes.