A man looking upwards to the right

drawing, chalk

drawing

toned paper

light pencil work

pencil sketch

charcoal drawing

possibly oil pastel

pencil drawing

underpainting

chalk

15_18th-century

portrait drawing

watercolour illustration

watercolor

rococo

This charcoal drawing by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piazzetta depicts a man's profile, rendered in a highly expressive manner. The subject's gaze is directed upwards and to the right, suggesting contemplation or yearning. The artist's skillful use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and volume, enhancing the expressive power of the work. This study, likely a preparatory sketch for a larger composition, showcases Piazzetta's talent for capturing the essence of human emotion. The drawing is currently housed at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt.

Comments

stadelmuseum about 1 year ago

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This drawing bears a connection to Piazzetta’s painting The Vision of John the Baptist of 1741-44. In comparison to the works of Piazzetta, however, the head exhibits less plasticity; moreover, the pose differs from the one in the painting. The master’s authorship must therefore be ruled out. The work could conceivably be a study by his pupil Giuseppe Angeli, who copied the painting. Yet since it does not correspond clearly to other works in Angeli’s drawing oeuvre, it has been given a general attribution to the Piazzetta circle.