The Finding of Moses
Old Master Drawing on paper • Circle of Sebastiano Ricci (Italian, 1659–1734) or Francesco Guardi (Italian, 1712–1793)
Style & Movement
Venetian Rococo
Medium & Technique
Pen and brown ink with gray or brown wash over traces of graphite charcoal on laid paper
Creation Period
circa 1730-1760
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 40 x 25 cm; vertical portrait format with an arched top composition indicated by a border line
Subject Description
The biblical narrative of Pharaoh's daughter discovering the infant Moses in a basket by the Nile. The composition features elegant female figures in contemporary 18th-century Venetian-influenced attire, set against a loosely defined landscape with a distant architectural feature. A small dog appears in the lower left, a common trope in Venetian narrative scenes.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows signs of historical aging, oxidation, and possible moisture exposure
Estimated Market Value
$4,000 - $7,000
Auction Estimate
$3,000 - $5,000
Provenance History
Unknown; appears to be mounted in a 20th-century gallery frame with a professional double-mount, suggesting past auction or dealer handling
Art Historical Significance
Represents the transition from late Baroque to Rococo in Northern Italy. The use of light washes and 'macchiette' style figures is characteristic of the Venetian school's emphasis on atmosphere and fluid movement over rigid linear perspective.
Notable Features
Incised or drawn arched border at the top indicates this may have been a preparatory study for a specific architectural commission, such as an altarpiece or a lunette painting.
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (small brown spots) across the sheet, a significant horizontal fold or crease across the middle, minor staining in the upper right quadrant, and slight yellowing of the paper consistent with age and light exposure.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional de-acidification and cleaning by a paper conservator to address foxing; mounting with acid-free materials and UV-protective glazing to prevent further light degradation.