Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 27 works by Gaspare Diziani in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals Gaspare Diziani left, the most famous is Dawn (1738), in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Close behind it come Laying Venus (1714) and The Family of Darius before Alexander the Great (1728). Our catalog holds 27 works by Gaspare Diziani; the gallery has kept the 27 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
Gaspare Diziani’s Dawn is an oil on canvas ceiling decoration created in 1738. The work functions as an allegorical representation of the morning, designed to crown the interior of a room. In this composition, the central figure of Dawn is surrounded by several cherubic putti. To the left, three putti engage in playful activities, including the carrying of a basket overflowing with flowers and foliage. On the right, a single…
The canvas presents a reclining female figure positioned slightly to the right of the center. This central subject is surrounded by several smaller figures, identified as cupids or putti, whose limbs and movements create a sense of rhythmic motion around the main body. The composition is asymmetrical, utilizing fluid and organic lines to define the soft contours of the human forms and the sweeping folds of the large fabric backdrop.…
The scene captures a pivotal encounter between the conqueror Alexander the Great and the defeated Persian royalty. On the left, the family of Darius seeks refuge under an ornate canopy, their gestures conveying profound distress and supplication. Opposite them, Alexander and his military entourage occupy the right side of the composition, projecting an aura of command and authority. The arrangement of figures creates a dynamic tension, using diagonal lines to…
In "Monk" by Gaspare Diziani, the viewer enters a quiet, private space where time seems to hold its breath. The composition centers on a close-up portrait of an elderly man, focusing intently on his upper body and his weathered hands. He sits in a moment of profound stillness, his gaze cast downward toward a small crucifix held between his fingers. At the very bottom of the frame, the presence of…
The artwork titled Praying Monk is an oil painting created by the Italian artist Gaspare Diziani. This specific piece dates to 1735. The subject is a solitary figure depicted in a moment of religious devotion, rendered in a style characteristic of the late Baroque period.
The scene unfolds in 1743 through the hand of Gaspare Diziani, who captures the tension of Moses trampling on the Pharaoh’s crown. This work emerges from a life shaped by the light of Italy, beginning in the town of Belluno where the artist was born in 1689. Every brushstroke carries the weight of a vision developed through years of observation and movement within the great artistic centers of the era.
The canvas captures a moment of fractured kinship under a heavy, dramatic sky. In this 1755 oil painting, the biblical narrative of Joseph unfolds through a dense arrangement of figures caught in the tension of a transaction. A rugged, hilly landscape provides a stark backdrop to the human drama unfolding in the foreground. The composition relies on a strong chiaroscuro effect, where light strikes the edges of flowing drapery and…
The composition centers on a large-scale, monochrome depiction of a biblical encounter within a grand, vaulted hall. Joseph stands in a central position, gesturing toward Pharaoh, who is seated upon a massive throne. The architectural setting is defined by heavy, classical columns and wide arches that recede into a dark, shadowed background. The lighting is directional, descending from an upper source to create high-contrast highlights on the figures' skin and…
In this expansive oil on canvas, we find ourselves witnessing a pivotal moment of human drama set against a grand, classical backdrop. The scene captures the family of Darius in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Gaugamela, seeking clemency from Alexander the Great. There is a profound sense of tension held within the crowded foreground, where the weight of loss meets the uncertainty of survival. The figures are caught…
In this sketch for a plafond - painting by Gaspare Diziani, a celestial drama unfolds within a swirling, monochromatic realm. The composition pulls the eye upward through a circular, sweeping motion that mimics the very heavens. Figures, perhaps mythological or divine in nature, drift amidst voluminous and billowing clouds that seem to churn with life. Every shape feels organic and curvilinear, contributing to an airy atmosphere where gravity appears to…
Christ before Pilate1757 · Gemäldegalerie
12
The Assumption of the Virgin1737 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art
13
Adoration of the Magi1718 · Szépművészeti Múzeum
14
The arming of Erminia1738 · National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
15
Adoration of the Shepherds1755
16
Adoration of the Magi1755 · Szépművészeti Múzeum
17
The Adoration of the Lamb. StudyNationalmuseum
18
Allegory with Apollo, Chronos and four ContinentsNational Gallery Prague
19
Girl holding flowersCa' Rezzonico – Museum of the 18th Century Venice
20
DanaéMusée de Grenoble
21
The martyrdom of sts felix and fortunatus
22
Interior with MonkeysJohn and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
23
Finding of Moses
24
The Family of Darius before Alexander the Great
25
Abraham and Three AngelsNational Museum in Kraków
26
The Adoration of the MagiRijksmuseum
27
Olympus (plafond)1750 · Hermitage Museum
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Gaspare Diziani | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bavarian State Painting Collections |
Munich | 3 | The Family of Darius before Alexander the Great, Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers, Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh |
 Statens Museum For Kunst |
Copenhagen | 2 | Monk, Praying Monk |
 Nationalmuseum |
Stockholm | 2 | The Family of Darius Pleading to Alexander, The Adoration of the Lamb. Study |
 Szépművészeti Múzeum |
Budapest | 2 | Adoration of the Magi, Adoration of the Magi |
 Metropolitan Museum of Art |
New York | 1 | Dawn |
 National Museum in Warsaw |
Warsaw | 1 | Moses trampling on the Pharaoh’s crown |
 Gemäldegalerie |
Berlin | 1 | Christ before Pilate |
 Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
Los Angeles | 1 | The Assumption of the Virgin |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
The canvas presents a reclining female figure positioned slightly to the right of the center. This central subject is surrounded by several smaller figures, identified as cupids or putti, whose limbs and movements create a sense of rhythmic motion around the main body. The composition is asymmetrical, utilizing fluid and organic lines to define the soft contours of the human forms and the sweeping folds of the large fabric backdrop.…
The scene captures a pivotal encounter between the conqueror Alexander the Great and the defeated Persian royalty. On the left, the family of Darius seeks refuge under an ornate canopy, their gestures conveying profound distress and supplication. Opposite them, Alexander and his military entourage occupy the right side of the composition, projecting an aura of command and authority. The arrangement of figures creates a dynamic tension, using diagonal lines to…
Gaspare Diziani’s Dawn is an oil on canvas ceiling decoration created in 1738. The work functions as an allegorical representation of the morning, designed to crown the interior of a room. In this composition, the central figure of Dawn is surrounded by several cherubic putti. To the left, three putti engage in playful activities, including the carrying of a basket overflowing with flowers and foliage. On the right, a single…
The scene unfolds in 1743 through the hand of Gaspare Diziani, who captures the tension of Moses trampling on the Pharaoh’s crown. This work emerges from a life shaped by the light of Italy, beginning in the town of Belluno where the artist was born in 1689. Every brushstroke carries the weight of a vision developed through years of observation and movement within the great artistic centers of the era.
The canvas captures a moment of fractured kinship under a heavy, dramatic sky. In this 1755 oil painting, the biblical narrative of Joseph unfolds through a dense arrangement of figures caught in the tension of a transaction. A rugged, hilly landscape provides a stark backdrop to the human drama unfolding in the foreground. The composition relies on a strong chiaroscuro effect, where light strikes the edges of flowing drapery and…
Dawn (1738), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Laying Venus (1714) and The Family of Darius before Alexander the Great (1728) come next.
49 years old: Dawn dates from 1738, and Gaspare Diziani was born in 1689.
Dawn, Laying Venus, The Family of Darius before Alexander the Great, Monk, Praying Monk, Moses trampling on the Pharaoh’s crown, Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers, Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh, The Family of Darius Pleading to Alexander and sketch for a plafond - painting. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 27 works by Gaspare Diziani, dated from 1714 to 1757.
Mostly in Bavarian State Painting Collections (Munich), Statens Museum For Kunst (Copenhagen) and Nationalmuseum (Stockholm). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1750s: 7 of the 27 works on this page were made then, Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers among them.
On this page, the earliest is Laying Venus (1714) and the latest Christ before Pilate (1757).
Drapery (7), Figures (6) and Woman (5), across the 27 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 6 of the 27 works on this page.
The Family of Darius before Alexander the Great, Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers and Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh: the Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munich holds 3 of the works on this page.
In the luminous era of the late Baroque and the burgeoning Rococo, Gaspare Diziani emerged as a painter of profound technical assurance and dramatic flair. Born in the serene town of Belluno, Italy, his artistic journey began under the guidance of Antonio Lazzarini, a foundation that would eventually lead him to the heart of the Venetian art world. As he moved toward Venice, Diziani immersed himself in the prestigious studios of Gregorio Lazzarini and the influential Sebastiano Ricci. These early mentors provided him with the tools to master the sweeping movements and emotional depth characteristic of his era, allowing him to develop a style that resonated with both religious fervor and aristocratic elegance.
Diziani’s career was marked by a remarkable ability to navigate the shifting tides of 18th-century aesthetics. While his work shared the stage with contemporaries like Giambattista Tiepolo, Diziani carved out a unique space through his versatility and command over both canvas and fresco. His early period, spanning roughly between 1710 and 1720, saw him contributing significant works to sacred spaces, such as the Mary Magdalene for the church of Santo Stefano in Belluno and the Entry into Jerusalem for San Teodoro in Venice. These religious commissions allowed him to explore the interplay of light and shadow, a hallmark of the late Baroque that would later soften into the more delicate, ornamental textures of the Rococo.
The breadth of Diziani’s influence extended far beyond the borders of the Republic of Venice. His reputation for excellence carried him to the courts of Dresden and Munich, demonstrating a reach that transcended local boundaries and touched the great cultural centers of Europe. This international presence is perhaps best exemplified by the sheer scale of his ambition; one of his most monumental achievements remains the largest painting housed within the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, a testament to his ability to command vast, immersive spaces.
Beyond his grand canvases, Diziani’s artistry was deeply rooted in the decorative traditions of his time. His skill in fresco painting is evident in his work on the Life of Saint Helena at the Scuola del Vin, where he transformed architectural surfaces into narrative windows of spiritual intensity. Whether working on a small-scale preparatory sketch or a massive ceiling piece, his hand was characterized by a certain celerity and technical confidence that captured the very essence of the Rococo spirit—a blend of grace, movement, and light.
The enduring significance of Gaspare Diziani lies in his role as a bridge between eras. He successfully synthesized the dramatic tension of the Baroque with the airy, ornamental beauty of the Rococo, leaving behind a body of work that continues to fascinate scholars and art lovers alike. Through his mastery of color and composition, he helped define the visual language of an age of splendor.
