Mercury Appearing to a Marine Deity and a Nymph 1696 - 1770

This pen and brown ink drawing, "Mercury Appearing to a Marine Deity and a Nymph," is a preparatory study for a larger work by the renowned Venetian artist, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770). The drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Tiepolo's mastery of draftsmanship, evident in the fluid lines and subtle shading that capture the dynamism of the figures. The composition features a winged Mercury, a marine deity, and a nymph, suggesting a scene from Roman mythology, where Mercury, messenger of the gods, brings tidings to the sea and its inhabitants. The preparatory nature of the drawing is apparent in the gestural lines and the undefined contours of the figures, revealing Tiepolo's artistic process.