Who painted Caliph Aladin and His Counselors?

Caliph Aladin and His Counselors was painted by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta in 1734.

Where can I see Caliph Aladin and His Counselors?

Caliph Aladin and His Counselors is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Caliph Aladin and His Counselors?

Caliph Aladin and His Counselors is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Caliph Aladin and His Counselors

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta , 1734

Caliph Aladin and His Counselors is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. It dates from 1734 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1734, the drawing titled *Caliph Aladin and His Counselors* is executed in black chalk with occasional red chalk accents on laid paper. It is attributed to Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, an Italian painter active in the early eighteenth century whose output encompassed both religious subjects and genre scenes.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a seated figure, his legs crossed, surrounded by two attendants. One advisor leans forward, gesturing with his hands, while a third figure is partially visible at the right edge. The grouping suggests a moment of counsel or deliberation, rendered in a narrative manner typical of Piazzetta’s interest in storytelling.

Technique & Style

Rendered with loose, expressive strokes of black chalk, the drawing conveys immediacy and motion. Red chalk highlights are scattered sparingly, adding tonal contrast. The quick, sketchy handling indicates a preparatory study, emphasizing draftsmanship over finished detail.

History & Provenance

The work belongs to Piazzetta’s early‑career period, when he frequently produced studies to develop larger compositions. It reflects his practice of using chalk drawings as a planning tool before committing to oil on canvas. The drawing’s provenance traces back to private collections before entering the museum’s holdings in the twentieth century.

Context

Situated within the broader Baroque and emerging Rococo currents, the sketch exemplifies the era’s preference for dynamic gestures and dramatic narrative. Such rapid studies were common among artists seeking to capture movement and emotional intensity before translating ideas into monumental paintings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (also called Giambattista Piazzetta or Giambattista Valentino Piazzetta) (February 13, 1682 or 1683 – April 28, 1754) was an Italian Rococo painter of religious subjects and genre scenes.