His style marks a transition from the decorative Rococo to the more structured Neoclassical movement. In drawings such as Striding Roman Warrior and Head of a Girl, he uses clean lines and balanced compositions. He often employed pen and ink with light washes to create form without relying on heavy shadows. This technique is visible in his Ceiling Decoration drawings, where he organises space through architectural logic rather than purely ornamental flourishes. His work avoids the excessive theatricality of the earlier Baroque period.

Modern collectors value Novelli for his draughtsmanship and the clarity of his compositions. His drawings, such as Satyr and Two Dragons or Neptune and Two Sea Nymphs on an Arch, function as finished pieces of art because of their clear execution. These works provide a window into the creative process of an 18th-century Venetian master. The neutral palettes and classical subjects make these prints suitable for contemporary interiors that require a sense of history without visual clutter.