Monumental Vase with Anthropomorphic Figures
after 1746
Medium
Pen and black ink, with brush and black, gray, yellow, and pale pink wash, on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
23.8 × 16.8 cm (9 3/8 × 6 5/8 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
3300
Art Historical Context
Jacques François Joseph Saly’s *Monumental Vase with Anthropomorphic Figures* showcases an imaginative design for an ornate vessel, rendered after 1746 in pen and black ink with delicate washes of black, gray, yellow, and pale pink on ivory laid paper. Measuring just 23.8 × 16.8 cm, the drawing captures the grandeur of a large-scale object through precise linework and subtle color, allowing viewers to envision its sculptural presence. The anthropomorphic figures integrated into the vase’s form highlight Saly’s interest in blending human and decorative elements, a hallmark of 18th-century orna...