# Sketches for a tablet

**Carlo Marchionni** (Italian, 1702–1786)  
ca. 1750  
Pen and black ink on laid paper  
25.5 x 17 cm (10 1/16 x 6 11/16 in.)

Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1901-39-2245. [The museum's record](https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/view/objects/asitem/id/8845).

## About this work

A tablet with a head rising from the middle of the top rim; its frame is supported by a woman leaning upon the tablet at left: a standing woman is alternatively suggested at right. Second row: a cloth frames the tablet; it is supported at left by a woman; at right on top by a flying angel, at the bottom by a kneeling figure. At right, a tablet is flanked by the two seated women. Third row, at right: the left half is shown; a chimera supporting a tablet. Bottom: a tablet with a pediment with a mask on top is supported by a standing angel, at left, by a flying small one at right.

_Text from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum._

Carlo Marchionni drew this in about 1750, aged 48. It is now at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.

### How it was made

- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.
- **Laid paper.** Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.

### [Carlo Marchionni](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/carlo-marchionni)

Italian, 1702–1786

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was 48
- Real size: about 10 × 6½ in (26 × 17 cm). The 8 × 10 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 18th century
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1705.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1705/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/sketches-for-a-tablet-si-chndm-1901-39-2245).