Three Studies of Mercury Putting on his Sandals c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Giovanni Battista Cipriani's "Three Studies of Mercury Putting on his Sandals," a drawing from the late 1700s. I’m struck by the artist’s use of line and repetition. What can you tell me about Cipriani's process? Curator: Cipriani’s preparatory sketch reveals a workshop practice rooted in material and the body. The lines aren't just aesthetic; they're evidence of labor, of repetitive actions refining a form. Consider the consumption of paper and ink in producing these studies, and their role in a larger system of artistic production. How does that change your view of this drawing? Editor: It makes me think less about the mythological subject and more about the work it took to produce classical art. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! It encourages us to consider the economic and social context in which such images were made.