Woman Transported by Three Putti 1696 - 1770

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo made this drawing titled 'Woman Transported by Three Putti' in the 18th century. It's a study using pen and brown wash over black chalk. It seems to capture a moment of ecstatic elevation. Tiepolo was working in Venice at a time when the city was declining as a major power, but the art world was thriving. Aristocratic patronage supported dazzling displays of skill and imagination. The art market helped to spread Tiepolo’s influence far beyond Venice. Tiepolo often depicted mythological and religious subjects, which reflected the values of his patrons and the institutions they represented. But these works also allowed him to explore themes of power, beauty, and the human condition. Art historians consult sources such as period documents and scholarly journals, to reveal the complex social and institutional worlds in which art is made and understood.