Artwork
Two Rampaging Elephants
Two Rampaging Elephants is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1791 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left, brown ink, signed: Dom.o Tiepolo f
About this work
Overview
Two Rampaging Elephants is a drawing created by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo in 1791. It is executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk and charcoal on white laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts two elephants in a dynamic, chaotic scene, with a man and child lying helpless in the foreground. The simple background emphasizes the energy and power of the elephants.
Technique & Style
Tiepolo used a range of techniques, including energetic linework and tonal shading, to convey the movement and force of the elephants. Loose, confident strokes capture the animals' muscles and legs, creating a sense of wild power.
History & Provenance
The drawing is from Tiepolo's late career, following his work in etching and printmaking. It is a product of his mature style, characterized by expressive and spontaneous mark-making.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.
