The artwork, titled “Saturn,” is by the artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi and belongs to the Neoclassicism art movement. This piece is characterized by its genre as a sketch and study.
The artwork presents an intricately drawn figure of Saturn, revered as the god of time in Roman mythology. Saturn is depicted seated on a cloud, grasping a large scythe, a symbol often associated with him. The figure is muscular, suggesting strength and stoicism, and draped in flowing robes that emphasize his classical form. The composition is framed within an octagonal border adorned with elaborate patterns. In the corners of the artwork, there are four birds, each meticulously illustrated, adding a sense of balance and symmetry to the overall structure. The lines are precise and clean, characteristic of Piranesi’s attention to detail, which underscores the informative and preparatory nature of this sketch within the context of Neoclassicism.
