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Allegory of Painting

Giovanni David

1776

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Allegory of Painting is a 1776 ink by Giovanni David, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Giovanni David
When & what style?: 1776 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a woman hunched over, drawing on a large piece of paper with a long brush. She holds a palette in one hand and a small bag or satchel at her feet. The lines are loose and energetic, with some shading to show her clothing and the paper’s texture. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in carved lines, creating a rough, expressive look. This style was popular for quick sketches and ideas. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made prints.