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This is a drawing depicting a scene with an elderly, bearded figure playing a flute while surrounded by smaller creatures with human and animal characteristics, possibly mythological beings or satyrs. A dog sits near the figure's feet. The setting shows lush vegetation, suggesting a woodland or forest backdrop. The drawing uses a monochromatic palette of earth tones and fluid line work.
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This is a drawing depicting a scene with an elderly, bearded figure playing a flute while surrounded by smaller creatures with human and animal characteristics, possibly mythological beings or satyrs. A dog sits near the figure's feet. The setting shows lush vegetation, suggesting a woodland or forest backdrop. The drawing uses a monochromatic palette of earth tones and fluid line work.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Satyr Entertaining His Family

Domenico Piola

Date
1690s
Medium
pen and brown ink with brown wash over traces of black chalk on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 28 × 24.5 cm (11 × 9 5/8 in.) mount: 40.6 × 32.4 cm (16 × 12 3/4 in.) framed: 60.96 × 45.72 cm (24 × 18 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2017.84.1
Credit line
Purchased as the Gift of Joan and David Maxwell
Time span
1651 to 1700
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • classical
  • mythology
Provenance

(Maurizio Nobile, Bologna); purchased 2017 by NGA.

Inscription

by later hand, lower left in graphite: Domenico Piola Genovese; by later hand, center verso in red chalk: [not deciphered]; in graphite: L2

NGA object ID 210157. 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.