Who painted Figure Studies [recto]?

Figure Studies [recto] was painted by Giovanni Battista Cipriani in 1756.

Where can I see Figure Studies [recto]?

Figure Studies [recto] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Figure Studies [recto]?

Figure Studies [recto] is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Figure Studies [recto]

Giovanni Battista Cipriani , 1756

Figure Studies [recto] is an ink 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

Figure Studies (recto) is a 1756 drawing by Giovanni Battista Cipriani, executed in pen and black ink with a gray wash on laid paper. The work exemplifies Cipriani’s preparatory approach, serving as a study for subsequent print designs that would often be transferred to engraving.

Technique & Style

The piece combines precise pen line work with subtle gray washes, creating tonal variation on the textured surface of laid paper. This method allowed Cipriani to delineate form and volume efficiently, a practice common among eighteenth‑century designers who needed clear, reproducible models for engraving.

Context

Cipriani, an Italian painter and engraver who settled in England in 1755, frequently collaborated with the engraver Francesco Bartolozzi. Their partnership involved Cipriani producing detailed drawings that Bartolozzi would later translate into prints, a workflow that this study illustrates.

History & Provenance

Created shortly after Cipriani’s arrival in Britain, the drawing reflects his early integration into the English artistic scene. While the original ownership record is limited, the work remains a representative example of his design process during the mid‑1750s.