Candelabrum with Two Victory Figures (for 'Ornamenti Diversi')

Giocondo (Giuseppe) Albertolli

ca. 1782 · Pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, on gray washed paper · Drawings and Prints

Giocondo Albertolli was one of the great minds of architecture and design during the neoclassical period in Italy. He was appointed professor of architectural ornament at the Accademia di Belli Arti di Brera (Milan) and further instructed and spread his ideas through four important print publications. The first one, published in 1782, was simply called ‘Ornamenti Diversi’ (Various Ornaments). This design for a candelabrum with two Victory figures is the preparatory drawing for one of the prints in this album. Characteristic for his works is the sculptural quality of his rendering, making it easy to understand and visualize the intended relief in the executed work. The subtitle to the album, ‘invented, drawn and executed by Giocondo Albertolli’, indicates that the candelabrum was in fact realized, and not just an idea on paper. The marble or perhaps bronze pendant to this design has not been identified so far however.

Artist

Giocondo (Giuseppe) Albertolli

Date

ca. 1782

Medium

Pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, on gray washed paper

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1960