Artwork

Paulinus, Cardinal and Patriarch of Aquileia, Transfers His Seat to Grado

Paulinus, Cardinal and Patriarch of Aquileia, Transfers His Seat to Grado is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Pietro Antonio Novelli. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1796 by the Italian draughtsman Pietro Antonio Novelli, this pen drawing records the moment when Paulinus, then cardinal and patriarch of Aquileia, transferred his episcopal seat to the island of Grado. Executed on laid paper with black, gray and brown ink and a subtle gray wash, the work combines precise line work with delicate tonal shading.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a gathering of figures before a columned façade, suggesting a formal ceremony. Two robed dignitaries dominate the centre, engaged in conversation, while surrounding onlookers—some in modest attire, a child seated on the ground—observe the event. A small boat moored in the distance hints at Grado’s maritime setting, underscoring the relocation of ecclesiastical authority.

Technique & Style

Novelli employs fine, controlled lines to delineate the architecture and the intricate folds of the clerical garments. Cross‑hatching builds volume and shadow, while a light gray wash adds atmospheric depth. The balance of detailed rendering and broader tonal areas creates a sense of quiet activity within a restrained visual field.

History & Provenance

The drawing was produced in the late eighteenth century, a period when Novelli was active in Venice and its environs. It likely served as a documentary record of the ecclesiastical shift, a subject of contemporary interest. The work has remained in private collections before entering its current institutional holding, where it is catalogued as a drawing rather than a finished painting.

Context

The transfer of the patriarchal seat from Aquileia to Grado reflected broader political and religious realignments in the Veneto region during the late 1700s. Novelli’s choice to render the event in a modest, observational style aligns with the Enlightenment’s emphasis on documentation and rational representation of historical moments.