Seated River God, Nymph with an Oar, and Putto 1696 - 1770

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo made this drawing of a seated river god, nymph with an oar, and putto using pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite. Tiepolo's mastery is evident in the way he coaxes form out of simple materials. Brown ink, applied with varying pressure, creates depth and volume. Notice the use of hatching and cross-hatching to build up shadows, a labor-intensive technique requiring precision and control. The brown wash adds atmosphere, blurring the lines between figures and ground. This wasn't just a quick sketch. It's a study, a careful exploration of form and composition. Tiepolo was likely preparing for a larger painting or fresco, meticulously working out the details of his design. The amount of work and mastery shows that the status of this drawing is elevated to that of fine art, rather than just craft.