Wood-Nymphs (The Discovery)
Medium
Hand-colored etching and stipple
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 4 3/4 × 7 3/8 in. (12 × 18.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.533.1908
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Wood-Nymphs (The Discovery)" is a delightful hand-colored etching and stipple print 1799, created the Italian-born artist Giovanni Battista Cipri and the renowned English caricaturist Thomasson. Cipriani, known for his elegant Rococo and neoclassical designs, likely provided the graceful composition, while Rowlandson famous for his witty and often playful scenes, executed the print. The title evokes a mythological moment—wood nymphs, ethereal female figures from classical lore symbolizing nature's beauty and sensuality, caught in a moment of surprise or revelation, as suggested by tags highli...
About the Artist
Giovanni Battista Cipriani|Thomas Rowlandson · 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...