Open full image Pin

Ancient Sacrifice and Head of a Satyr

Felice Giani

1790

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Ancient Sacrifice and Head of a Satyr is a 1790 ink by Felice Giani, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Felice Giani
When & what style?: 1790 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a mix of two scenes. On the left, a group of robed figures stands around a kneeling man holding a child. Behind them, a building with shelves and a flame-shaped decoration is drawn in simple lines. On the right, a wild-looking face with curly hair and a beard fills the space, its expression fierce. The sketch uses quick, rough lines and shading to create drama. The figures on the left look like they’re part of a story, while the face on the right feels more like a mythical creature. The artist focused on movement and emotion over detail. Next, look up Romanticism to see how this style changed art.