Design for a Wall Decorated with Grotesque
1762–1844
Medium
Pen and light brown ink, brush and brown, green, yellow, pink, orange, purple and blue wash over traces of leadpoint
Dimensions
8 x 6-1/16 in. (20.3 x 15.4 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1967
Accession Number
67.707.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Giuseppe Bernardino Bison, prolific Venetian artist active from 1762 to 1844, crafted this intricate *Design for a Wall Decorated Grotesque* as a preparatory drawing for opulent interior decoration. Hailing from the vibrant artistic tradition of Venice, Bison specialized in ornamental designs, blending neoclassical elegance with whimsical fantasy. This small-scale sheet (just 8 x 6-1/16 inches) captures his vision for a wall alive with grotesque motifs—playful, interwoven motifs of mythical creatures, foliage, and architectural elements inspired by ancient Roman frescoes rediscovered during th...
About the Artist
Giuseppe Bernardino Bison
Born 16 June 1762; died 24 August 1844. Comment on works: Landscapes