Study of a Draped Figure c. 1750

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created this study of a draped figure with red chalk on paper. It's hard to put an exact date on it, but we know he lived from 1696 to 1770. Tiepolo was a master of the Rococo style in Venice, Italy. He received commissions from wealthy families, religious institutions, and royal houses. He was renowned for his frescoes and paintings, but sketches like this gave him the opportunity to work out the compositions. The flowing lines and dynamic folds of the drapery in this drawing are typical of Tiepolo's style, designed to produce emotional responses and engage the viewer. The theatricality of such drapery became an important tool in communicating ideas. Art historians study these drawings to understand the artist’s creative process, but also the importance of drawing as an academic skill, and the complex relationship between institutions, patronage, and artistic production in 18th-century Europe.