Tuesday, June 16, 2015

GBT in Philadelphia

Giambattista Tiepolo
etching from the Capricci series
c. 1734

In the virtual vaults of the Philadelphia Museum of Art waiting to be discovered were several new examples of Giambattista Tiepolo's famous and mysterious Capricci and Scherzi etchings. These particular ones I had seen previously reproduced in books but not previously in fine & generous digital renderings.

Gimabattista Tiepolo
etching from the Capricci series
c. 1734

Giambattista Tiepolo
etching from the Capricci series
c. 1734

Giambattista Tiepolo
Happy Satyr & Family
Etching
c. 1750

Giambattista Tiepolo
etching from the Scherzi series
c. 1743

Giambattista Tiepolo
etching from the Scherzi series
c. 1743

Also in Philadelphia, two of the elaborate oil sketches used by Giambattista to establish ideas for the famous frescoes for ceilings and walls upon which his public success primarily rested.

Giambattista Tiepolo
Oil sketch for Glory of St. Dominic
1738-39

Giambattista Tiepolo
Oil sketch for Venus & Vulcan
c. 1765

The cloud beneath Venus has just been brought to life, still resting quietly on its marble foundation.