The Marriage of Europe and China
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Marriage of Europe and China is a 1760 ink by Pietro Antonio Novelli, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a busy scene with people dressed in fancy, old-fashioned clothes. Some are holding hands or reaching up, while others stand around a tall pedestal with a statue on top. A woman in a long dress holds a child’s hand, and a man in a tall hat seems to be leading the group. The background has a fence, a dog, and a few clouds, all drawn in quick, loose lines. The title says this is about the "Marriage of Europe and China," but the exact story isn’t clear from the image alone. The mix of people and the statue on the pedestal might symbolize something bigger, like cultures coming together. If this scene interests you, check out the National Gallery of Art, Washington to see it in person.
