Who painted Angelica and Medoro?

Angelica and Medoro was painted by Giovanni Battista Cipriani in 1756.

Where can I see Angelica and Medoro?

Angelica and Medoro is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Angelica and Medoro?

Angelica and Medoro is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Angelica and Medoro

Giovanni Battista Cipriani , 1756

Angelica and Medoro is a graphite drawing by the Baroque artist Giovanni Battista Cipriani. It dates from 1756 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Angelica and Medoro is a graphite drawing on laid paper created by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Cipriani in 1756, shortly after his relocation to England.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing illustrates a poignant scene from Ludovico Ariosto’s epic poem Orlando Furioso, capturing the intimate moment when Medoro, a knight, carves his and Princess Angelica’s names into a tree, symbolizing their love.

Technique & Style

Characterized by loose, swirling lines and quick, uneven pencil strokes, the sketch conveys a sense of spontaneity, resembling a preliminary draft rather than a polished work. The rough texture of the laid paper complements the hasty execution.

History & Provenance

Typical of Cipriani’s practice, this drawing likely served as a design for a print, potentially intended for engraving by his collaborator, Francesco Bartolozzi. Faint, illegible writing in the corner may include the title or the artist’s signature.

Context

Emerging from the mid-18th century European artistic landscape, Angelica and Medoro reflects the enduring influence of literary themes in art, while its style hints at the transitional period between Baroque dramatics and the emerging Neoclassical sensibilities.

Legacy

While not a finished piece, the drawing offers insight into Cipriani’s creative process and his contribution to the popularization of literary illustrations through print designs during his English period.