Artwork
A Standing Oriental Wearing a Greatcoat
A Standing Oriental Wearing a Greatcoat 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 Wearing a Greatcoat is a drawing executed in 1758 by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, a prominent Venetian artist of the Rococo period. Rendered in pen and brown ink with brown wash on laid paper, the work showcases Tiepolo's characteristic attention to detail and expressive line work.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays a standing figure clad in a long, flowing greatcoat, possibly of Middle Eastern or Asian origin, suggested by the attire and head covering, which may be a turban. The figure's face remains obscured, focusing attention on the costume and posture.
Technique & Style
Tiepolo employed pen and brown ink with brown wash to achieve a warm, depthful quality. The plain off-white background allows the figure to take prominence, highlighting the artist's skill in capturing texture and form through varied line weights and shading.
History & Provenance
Created in 1758, this drawing reflects Tiepolo's broader practice of character and costume studies, undertaken alongside his work as a painter and printmaker across Europe, including Italy, Germany, and Spain.
Context
This work sits within Tiepolo's oeuvre, characterized by Rococo sensibilities and an interest in diverse figures, likely inspired by his travels and the cultural exchange of 18th-century Europe.
Legacy
A Standing Oriental Wearing a Greatcoat contributes to Tiepolo's reputation for nuanced, expressive drawings that explore character through attire and pose, influencing subsequent artistic depictions of diverse subjects.
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.
