Putti Leading a Goat

c. 1747

Giovanni Francesco Costa

Associated Names
Giovanni Francesco Costa

Artist, Venetian, 1711 - 1773

The image displays swirling, curvilinear shapes and lines creating an abstract composition with organic and circular motifs. The top section shows shapes resembling animals with elongated bodies and legs, possibly deer, amidst lush foliage. Below, a circular pattern filled with floral elements surrounds a textured oval shape, which could resemble a stylized pond or celestial body, like a moon in a garden. The elements combine to form a dynamic and cohesive artwork with a blend of natural scenery and artistic elements.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching, hand-colored with watercolor, on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    New Century Fund

  • Dimensions

    plate: 20.4 × 29.2 cm (8 1/16 × 11 1/2 in.)
    sheet: 23 × 39.5 cm (9 1/16 × 15 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2014.176.5

  • Series Title

    Anamorphoses, p. 9

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Cesare Morini, Milan (d. 2013); his widow, Karin Wachtel, Milan; (Stanza del Borgo, Milan); purchased 2014 by NGA

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2005

  • Una Venezia di carta: La città dei Dogi all'epoca di Canaletto e Tiepolo, Capolavori di una collezione di incisioni veneziane del Settecento, cat. by Antonia Nessi, Cabinet Cantonal des Estampes, Musée Jenisch, Vevey; Institut d'histoire de l'art et de muséologie, Université de Neuchâtel; Museo Cantonale d'Arte, Lugano, 2005-2006, no. 29.

Inscriptions

lower left in plate: 9

Watermarks

unidentified

Wikidata ID

Q77008024

You may be interested in

Loading Results