Artwork

Three Cherubs and a Beribboned Staff

Three Cherubs and a Beribboned Staff, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, chalk, 1750
Three Cherubs and a Beribboned Staff, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, chalk, 1750

Three Cherubs and a Beribboned Staff is a chalk drawing by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This drawing, created in 1750, is a representative work by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, a prominent artist of the Rococo period. Executed in red chalk on blue paper with white highlights, it showcases the artist's skill in a medium characteristic of his time.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts three cherubs, one of whom holds a staff adorned with ribbons, in a playful and gentle manner. The cherubs' soft facial features contribute to the overall light and decorative quality of the work.

Technique & Style

Tiepolo employed red chalk on blue paper, a common technique of his era, and heightened the drawing with white chalk. The heads of the upper cherubs were incised for transfer, indicating the artist's intention to reproduce the image.

Context

Tiepolo's work was influenced by the Rococo style, which emphasized light, decorative, and playful elements. His career spanned multiple regions, including Italy, Germany, and Spain, where he produced a significant body of work.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Artist

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.