Drawing of a Grotesque after a 16th-century Decorative Relief. 1770 - 1830

Filippo Cretoni’s *Drawing of a Grotesque after a 16th-century Decorative Relief* is a graphite drawing on paper that depicts a fantastical creature. The artwork features a grotesque figure with a human-like torso and the lower body of a feline. The figure’s face is also depicted, but it’s not quite human, with strange features that are difficult to read. The artwork is also decorated with ornate foliage, which is a feature of 16th-century decorative reliefs, and the drawing demonstrates the artist’s interest in historical art. The artwork, created between 1770 and 1830, is currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.