Figure Studies (recto) c. 1744

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created this pen and brown ink drawing, ‘Figure Studies’, in the 18th century. The artist was from Venice, a republic in Italy that was known for its distinctive artistic style during this period. Venice was an important centre for the arts and culture, but was also known for its rigid class structure. Aristocratic patronage played a key role in the creation of artwork, and artists were expected to cater to the tastes and preferences of their wealthy patrons. As you can see here, figure studies were often made by artists as prep work for larger paintings. Tiepolo's artwork often reflected the social and political realities of his time. He often depicted scenes from classical history and mythology, which were popular subjects among the Venetian elite. He was known for his use of light and colour, which created a sense of drama and spectacle in his paintings. To understand these better, historians might consider the literature or social commentary of the time and study the conventions that governed the practices within Venetian art institutions.