Sebastiano Ricci, Bathsheba, ca. 1724, pen and brown ink and brown wash on paper, 5 3/8 in. x 5 1/8 in. (13.6 cm. x 13.02 cm.), In this study for a painting, the Venetian Rococo painter Sebastiano Ricci sketches out an arrangement of attendants surrounding the bathing Bathsheba, one of the major female protagonists of the Old Testament. The spirited touch and fluid lines, the strong contrasts of the figures, and the rapid flourishes that adorn the architectural elements are characteristic of Ricci's late drawings. This work was most likely created in Venice, after Ricci, whose travel and work throughout Europe earned him international esteem, returned to his birthplace. Artworks representing Bathsheba at her bath are quite common, as this scene allows for the illustration of a beautiful female nude during a moment of violated privacy, when King David's illicit glance inflames his desires. This drawing is likely a compositional study for Ricci's painting of the same subject, 'Bathsheba' (1725), held in the collection of the Gemaldegalerie, Berlin.
Keywords:
Sebastiano Ricci, Bathsheba, ca. 1724, pen, brown ink, brown wash, paper, 5 3/8 . x 5 1/8, 13.6 cm. x 13.02 cm., study, painting, Venetian Rococo painter Sebastiano Ricci sketches out, arrangement, attendants surrounding, bathing Bathsheba, major female protagonists, Old Testament., spirited touch, fluid lines, strong contrasts, figures, rapid flourishes, adorn, architectural elements, characteristic, Ricci's late drawings., work, created, Venice, Ricci, travel, work, Europe earned, international esteem, returned, birthplace. Artworks representing Bathsheba, bath, quite common, scene allows, illustration, beautiful female nude, moment, violated privacy, King David's illicit glance inflames, desires., drawing, compositional study, Ricci's painting, subject, 'Bathsheba', 1725, held, collection, Gemaldegalerie, Berlin
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