Two Medallions with Standing Figures of Omphale and Bacchus, Separated by Design of Acanthus Leaves
1747/1785
Medium
Pen and black ink, with brush and brown and gray wash, on cream laid paper
Dimensions
17.9 × 30.1 cm (7 1/16 × 11 7/8 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
85777
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In the Prints and Drawings collection of the Art Institute of Chicago resides a refined 18th-century drawing Giovanni Battista Cipriani an Italian-born artist renowned for his elegant neoclassical style. Titled *Two Medallions with Standing of Omphale andchus, Separated by of Acanthus Leaves*, work, dated 1747/1785, measures 17.9 × 30.1 cm and Cipriani's mastery in pen and black ink, enhanced by brush and brown and gray wash on cream laid paper. Created during a period when neoclassicism drew inspiration from ancient antiquity, it captures the artist's precise line work and subtle tonal modeling. The composition features two oval medallions framing classical mythological figures: Omphale, the Lydian queen famously entwined in Hercules' labors, and Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and revelry, both depicted in poised standing poses. They are elegantly divided by scrolling acanthus leaves, a motif rooted in Greco-Roman ornamentation symbolizing enduring vitality. This arrangement suggests the drawing's potential as a design for decorative objects like cameos, furniture, or prints—common in the Enlightenment era's revival of classical themes for elite interiors. Cipriani's technique highlights the era's shift toward clarity and grace, blending Rococo fluidity with neoclassical restraint. For visitors, this piece offers a window into how mythology bridged ancient lore and 18th-century taste, inviting reflection on timeless human passions rendered in delicate washes.
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...