Elaborate Wall Decorations with Venus and Adonis

c. 1800

Tommaso Bigatti

Associated Names
Tommaso Bigatti

Artist, Italian, active c. 1800

This is a painting of panels showcasing classical scenes with mythological elements. The central panel shows two figures under a tree with swans and a small animal. The side panels depict individual figures; one with a spear and the other with a vessel. The painting features decorative motifs like mythical creatures, floral patterns, and symmetrical designs. The overall aesthetic is rich with symbolism and elegance, suggestive of ancient myth or allegory. This style is similar to that of Giovanni Battista Cipriani.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gouache over traces of graphite on "swan skin" (fine mammalian parchment made to appear avian)

  • Credit Line

    Gift of David H. McDonnell

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 31.7 × 45.6 cm (12 1/2 × 17 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2017.126.2

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

An "aristocratic family," Sicily; (their sale, Christie's, London, 10 December 2015, no. 24); David H. McDonnell, Arlington, VA; gift to NGA, 2017.

Associated Names

Wikidata ID

Q64633334

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