Study for an Inkstand c. 1740 - 1745

This is Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s "Study for an Inkstand," made with pen and brown ink wash on paper. Notice how the ink and wash, fluid materials, lend themselves to the depiction of a fantastical object. Tiepolo was a master of surface effect. He understood how to convey maximum information with the least amount of effort. The ink lines, applied with a practiced hand, outline the figures and architectural elements with precision. The wash creates depth and volume, suggesting the play of light on the inkstand's surface. Although only a drawing, it is a virtuoso performance in its own right, evidence of Tiepolo’s skill. The speed and efficiency of the work reflects a sophisticated workshop practice. Tiepolo would have employed assistants to execute his designs. The inkstand, therefore, is not simply an object, but the material manifestation of a collaborative process, one that blurred the lines between fine art, craft, and industrial production.