Cipriani R.A., Giovanni Battista (1727 – 1785) – A Sheet of Figure Studies.

Cipriani's drawings and compositions became a prevalent part of eighteenth century visual culture via the prints his friend, Bartolozzi made of them. This sheet seems to combine studies for both religious (the studies of a beared figure) and mythological subjects. The style of drawing and dynamic, Michelangelesque poses can be related to Cipriani's studies for his illustrations to Charles Dibdin's, 'The Mirror, or Harlequin Everywhere' (1779) in the British Museum. Indeed, the figures on the left may be Sisyphus shown in two different poses.