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From the exhibition

Six Antique Gods and Goddesses

Felice Giani, Italian, 1758–1823 · circa 1850, after Felice Giani (Italian, 1758–1823)

Six Antique Gods and Goddesses
This study sheet presents six classical deities in pen and ink, each rendered as a standing figure with allegorical attributes. The compositions stack vertically, demonstrating variations in pose and costume across mythological subjects. Giani's technique employs rapid, confident line work to suggest drapery and movement, typical of neoclassical design practice. Such sheets functioned as reference material for artists, engravers, and decorative craftsmen working in the 19th century. The artist's interest in antiquity reflects broader European fascination with Greco-Roman sources, evident in everything from architectural ornament to narrative painting of the period.

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