Meleager, Turning to the Left 1736 - 1804

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo rendered this study of Meleager in pen and brown wash on laid paper. The earthy tones are typical of the period. But consider the character of a wash drawing like this one: it’s quick, immediate, made for capturing an impression. And indeed, this work gives us the classical hero Meleager in a state of dynamic poise. The ink, applied with brush, pools in some areas, and is nearly translucent in others. Tiepolo no doubt worked quickly, relying on well-honed skill to achieve the chiaroscuro effect. This contrasts with the laborious effort of ancient marble carving, from which this figure ultimately derives. In that context, it would have taken months to bring forth such a figure from stone. Tiepolo’s virtuoso drawing collapses that labour into a performance. We tend to think of drawings as mere preparation for more ‘finished’ works. But it’s works like this that show us the real thinking that underlies even the most monumental achievements in art history. They also bring us closer to the hand, and mind, of the artist.