This is a drawing of two abstract characters interacting with a ball. The drawing features two stylized figures, each with exaggerated facial features and expressions, positioned on either side of the image. The figure on the left appears to be gesturing or reaching towards the right, with one hand extended and the other arm clad in a patterned sleeve. The figure on the right is holding a large, spherical object, maintaining eye contact with the left figure. Each character exhibits a sense of dynamic posture, suggesting movement and engagement with each other. The artwork employs a monochromatic color scheme with sepia tones and bold, expressive lines.
Read the visual description

This is a drawing of two abstract characters interacting with a ball. The drawing features two stylized figures, each with exaggerated facial features and expressions, positioned on either side of the image. The figure on the left appears to be gesturing or reaching towards the right, with one hand extended and the other arm clad in a patterned sleeve. The figure on the right is holding a large, spherical object, maintaining eye contact with the left figure. Each character exhibits a sense of dynamic posture, suggesting movement and engagement with each other. The artwork employs a monochromatic color scheme with sepia tones and bold, expressive lines.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Caricature with Ball Players

Giuseppe Maria Mitelli

Medium
iron gall ink on laid paper, with black ink borders
Dimensions
overall: 16.4 x 29 cm (6 7/16 x 11 7/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2004.140.22
Credit line
Gift of Benjamin and Lillian Hertzberg
Time span
1601 to 1650
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • Italian
  • amusement
  • genre
Provenance

Benjamin and Lillian Hertzberg, New York; gift to NGA, 2004.

Inscription

by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 14

NGA object ID 130857. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.