Artwork
A Standing Oriental Holding a Rod
A Standing Oriental Holding a Rod is an ink drawing by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It dates from 1758 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Standing Oriental Holding a Rod is a drawing created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1758 using pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper. It exemplifies the artist's work from his later period.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts an older man in non-Western attire, holding a rod and cane, embodying the 18th-century fascination with exotic subjects. His serious demeanor is conveyed through his long beard and loose robe.
Technique & Style
Tiepolo employed a loose and rapid drawing style, utilizing light brown ink and wash to capture the subject. He left areas blank to convey light, and the textured paper adds to the overall effect.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
