Vaas met olifantskoppen en naakte nimfen 1764

Benigno Bossi created this drawing of a vase with elephant heads and nude nymphs. Executed with delicate lines and subtle shading, the monochromatic study presents an elaborate vase elevated on a stone plinth. The composition is dominated by the ornate structure of the vase, which features spiraling fluting and is adorned with elephant heads and reclining nude nymphs, all contributing to a sense of dynamic movement. The formal elements of the vase reveal a tension between classical order and Baroque exuberance. Its symmetry and classical references give way to the more elaborate, sensual forms of the nymphs and elephant heads, destabilizing the fixity of its design. Bossi's work can be seen as a meditation on form, function, and the semiotic potential of decorative arts to convey meaning and aesthetic pleasure, reflecting the broader cultural and philosophical currents of his time.