1744
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Scherzo with Antique Figures is a 1744 ink by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a chaotic scene of robed figures tangled in movement. They’re all over the place—some standing, others sprawled, arms flailing like they’re caught in a storm. The lines are loose and messy, with quick strokes that make the figures look almost alive, but also a little wild. The whole thing feels like a sketch that was drawn fast, with lots of scribbles and smudges. The figures look like they’re dressed in ancient Roman clothes, but they’re not quite realistic—they’re more like exaggerated poses. The artist used a lot of ink and wash, making some areas dark and others faded, like the paper itself is part of the chaos. If this sketch style interests you, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with lines.
Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi (Italian pronunciation: ; also known as simply Piranesi; 4 October 1720 – 9 November 1778) was an Italian classical archaeologist, architect, and artist, famous for his…
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