Italian painter, draftsman and printmaker
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
better known as
Giambattista Tiepolo
was born,
March 5, 1696
in Venice, Italy
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Tiepolo was considered the greatest painter of large-scale decorative frescoes in the 1700s and an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school. He was admired for having brought fresco painting to new heights of technical virtuosity, illumination, and dramatic effect. While he while extends the tradition of Baroque ceiling decoration, he epitomizes the lightness and elegance of the Rococo period.
While extending the tradition of Baroque ceiling decoration, epitomize the lightness and elegance of the Rococo period. Together with Giambattista Pittoni, Canaletto, Giovan Battista Piazzetta, Giuseppe Maria Crespi and Francesco Guardi are considered the traditional Old Masters of that period.
Founder and head of a successful family workshop, Tiepolo’s activity ranged from grand-scale wall frescoes, to religious and secular paintings on canvas, to works in the more intimate mediums of etching and drawing. Working with his sons, Giovanni Domenico and Lorenzo, Tiepolo carried out prestigious commissions in Italy and abroad, famously including the residence of the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg in Germany and the Spanish royal palace in Madrid.
One of the most talented draftsmen of his time, Tiepolo produced a large number of drawings in different media.
Michael Levey describes him as
“the greatest decorative painter of eighteenth-century Europe, as well as its most able craftsman.”
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So here’s a glimpse of this master’s work
Etchings & Drawings
Satyr Family (Pan and his Family) 
Caricature of a short gentleman holding a muff 
The Rider Standing by His Horse, from Capricci 
Democritus and Heraclitus Laughing and Sorrowing over the Follies of the World 
The Head of a Young Man in Profile to the Left (recto)-Studies of Allegorical Figures (verso) 
Caricature of a Man, Full-Length, Facing Left 
The Holy Family, Saint Joseph with a Book 
Two Monks Contemplating a Skull 
Three Angels Appearing to Abraham 
The Temptation of Saint Anthony 
Punchinellos Cooking and Tasting Gnocchi (Punchinellos’ Repast) 
Study for Detail – The Goddess Diana 
Death Giving Audience, from Capricci 
Fantasy on the Death of Seneca 
Seated River God, Nymph with an Oar, and Putto 
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and from
Antonio Vivaldi
who’s birthday was on the 4th
[thanks for reminding me Trent! ;-)]
we hear some Venetian Baroque with the
Concerto for two mandolins, strings and basso continuo [organ] in G major (RV 532)
Marten Scheffer (mandolin I) • Rens van der Zalm (mandolin II)
Krijn Koetsveld conducts the
Ensemble Malipier
II. Andante • III. Allegro
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For more information on Tiepolo:
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tiep/hd_tiep.htm
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/giovanni-battista-tiepolo
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1927.html
https://www.artic.edu/artists/36972/giambattista-tiepolo
https://www.nicholashall.art/artist/giambattista-tiepolo/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Tiepolo
Marina Kanavaki 
Frescoes are like street art from this period, to me!
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I can see the relation… 😉
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Tiepolo looks quite soulful in his self-portrait.
Great observation! He does, doesn’t he!
So much talent came out of Venice.
This piece of music makes me want to watch a movie that takes place in Tuscany! (I saw one last week – Shadows in the Sun… Now I have to look for another!
Very true…
I just searched and found this list of films set in Tuscany:
https://mytravelintuscany.com/25-movies-set-in-tuscany/
Tarkovsky, Fellini & Taviani, are just a few favorites… 😉
That’s so cool! (And I’ve seen a number of them… wonder where the movie I just watched was filmed as it’s not mentioned 😉 )
I’m sure you have! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
xoxo
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Very talented artist!
Of all the works shown, I adore his caricatures the most. I think at this point he was ahead of his time.
The other works are magnificent, and of his time.
It seems to me since the camera was invented, art had to move on.
Now where will it go?
Wonderful post, Marina! The music just ended, and was perfect for this post.
Thank you!!!
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I agree with you about his caricatures but also the luminosity of his frescoes was very unique too.
So glad you enjoyed this, Resa!
Sending love and wishes for a beautiful week ahead!
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It’s 10 + today!!!
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Grrrrrrrreat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Wednesday it will be 10+, as well. Time to try walking in a sneaker, again!
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Yay!!!!!!!!! 👍Gradually though!!!!
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The caricatures were my favorites as well!
What a master he was!
Even after looking at this ample assortment I still wouldn’t know how to tell the paintings are by Tiepolo rather than by other painters of the era.
I get what you’re saying however there’s a certain brilliance, in his paintings, as if the light comes through them, which is very unique.
Another artist that I don’t know. I find him imaginative, and with clarity. Thanks for the introduction. Have a good rest of the weekend. Yamas!
Clarity describes well this master’s work and luminocity and technical perfection. It’s really odd that he is not promoted as he should.
You too, my friend!
Yamas!!!
Another wonderful 18th century artist.
He really is an incredible artist! Glad you enjoyed!! 🙏😊
I do not know Tiepolo well, but these are marvelous works of art!
He’s one of the old Masters who although is considered a great painter (and an influence to many), is not widely known. Such delicate beauty and mastery of lines, marvelous indeed! Glad yoy enjoyed!! 🙏
I think he worked in one of those odd times that many art history books gloss over. But the work is stunning. When I was in Italy, I loved those painted ceilings where you look up into the heavens, like some of the works of Tiepolo that you shared!
I adore those ceilings too…
Isn’t it amazing how different our lives are today?
I want to paint my ceilings so it looks like I’m looking up into some strange, pagan paradise!
With you!!!!!!!
Which makes me wonder apart from their talent, what kind of super human physical state were their bodies that they would paint ceilings, at some spots, probably lying on their backs too, for years!