Caricature of a Man Standing with Outstretched Hands

Description

This sheet comes from an album of drawings executed by Tiepolo entitled "Third Volume of Caricatures," which suggests that at least two other such albums existed. The intimate size of these drawings and their gathering into albums suggest that they were meant to be shared with friends and fellow collectors. While a fashion for caricature developed in Italy in the 18th century, Tiepolo's portrayals stand out for their technical bravura and an incisive blending of ridicule with sympathy. A similar gentle humor pervades his "Capricci" and Scherzi" series, also represented in this exhibition. His caricatures influenced his son Giovanni Domenico as well as Goya, Rowlandson, and Daumier.
Exhibition label text for "Venice, Traditions Transformed," September 21, 1996 - January 12, 1997 by Annette Dixon and Monika Schmitter.