Allegorical Figure Representing Arithmetic 1760

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created this drawing titled, Allegorical Figure Representing Arithmetic, with pen, brown wash, and white gouache. The composition is dominated by a statue-like figure, centrally placed against an architectural backdrop. The columns and the faint image in the background establish a classical setting. The figure stands atop a marble plinth inscribed with the word Arithmetic. The artist uses light and shadow to give the figure volume, accentuating the folds of the drapery that envelop her body. The soft lines and muted tones contribute to a sense of refinement. The drawing invites contemplation on the relationship between knowledge, representation, and the classical world. Tiepolo's emphasis on the form and structure serves to elevate the concept of arithmetic, associating it with the enduring principles of classical thought. The interplay between the figure and the architectural elements underlines a connection between human intellect and the structured world it seeks to understand.