Birth of Adonis
1775/1785
Medium
Pen and black ink, and brush and black and gray wash, on blue laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper, perimeter mounted on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
26.9 × 40.9 cm (10 5/8 × 16 1/8 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
46424
About the Artist
Giovanni Battista Cipriani · 1766–1839
Giovanni Battista Cipriani was born on April 20, 1766, in Siena, Italy, to Simon Pietro Cipriani and Eva Bandini. He grew up alongside his brothers Barbato, a sculptor, and Galgano, an engraver, in a family immersed in the arts. Cipriani began his education studying Latin and mathematics before pursuing fine arts under the sculptor and architect Giuseppe Silini in Siena.) His talent earned him a p...