Jasper Covered Dish n.d.

Giuseppe Grisoni made this drawing of a jasper covered dish sometime in the first half of the 18th century. Its simple watercolor and ink lines represent an exquisite object, an extravagant confection of precious materials. The drawing gives us insight into the economic structures of the period. The dish is a display of wealth and luxury goods traded across Europe and beyond. Grisoni was an Italian painter who spent considerable time in England, where he became known for portraiture and history painting. This drawing may have served as a record for wealthy patrons or as a design proposal for an artisan. It reflects the networks between artists, patrons and craftspeople at this time. We can better understand the social life of this image through archival research into the art market of the 1700's. Drawings like this highlight the cultural and institutional contexts in which art is made and circulated.