Ceiling Design of a Nereid Mounted on a Hippocamp with Putto 18th century

This 18th-century anonymous drawing depicts a nereid, a female sea nymph, riding a hippocamp, a mythological creature with a horse’s head and a fish’s tail. A putto, a winged cherub, flies above the scene, adding a touch of whimsy. The drawing, executed in pen and ink, is a design for a ceiling decoration and exemplifies the decorative style of the period. Its delicate lines and the use of light washes of gray for shading enhance the sense of movement and create a feeling of airy lightness, appropriate for a ceiling design.