Centaur Embracing a Satyress 1727 - 1804

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo made this ink and wash drawing, Centaur Embracing a Satyress, with quill and brush. The beauty of this work lies in its directness and the immediacy of the artist's hand. The quick strokes and washes, combined with the unadorned paper, result in a work that privileges process over fine detail. It is a simple combination of materials, yet the artist coaxes a range of tones through layering and variation in pressure. Tiepolo, a Venetian master, worked at a time when printmaking was a major industry. Drawings were often made in preparation for engravings, and while this work may not have been directly intended for reproduction, it certainly demonstrates an understanding of line work and tonal contrast essential for print production. The artist also suggests a world of ease and play, one far removed from the labor and commerce of the Venetian Republic. It is the skilled application of ink on paper that allows us access to this mythological escape, challenging the distinction between the applied and fine arts.