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GIOVANNI BATTISTA TIEPOLO | A bearded oriental standing in profile
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
- A bearded oriental standing in profile
- Pen and brown ink and wash
- 218 by 148 mm; 8 5/8 by 5¾ in
Provenance
Probably Conte Algarotti-Corniani, Venice;
Edward Cheney, Badger Hall, Shropshire,
thence by inheritance to his brother-in-law, Col. Alfred Capel-Cure, Blake Hall, Essex,
sale London, Christie’s, 14 July 1914, lot 49 to
E. Parsons and Sons, London;
with James Mackinnon, London,
from whom acquired in 1989 by Howard and Saretta Barnet, New York
Edward Cheney, Badger Hall, Shropshire,
thence by inheritance to his brother-in-law, Col. Alfred Capel-Cure, Blake Hall, Essex,
sale London, Christie’s, 14 July 1914, lot 49 to
E. Parsons and Sons, London;
with James Mackinnon, London,
from whom acquired in 1989 by Howard and Saretta Barnet, New York
Condition
Hinge mounted in two places along the upper edge to a modern card backing. The pen and wash medium remains in very fine original condition throughout. Sold in a beaded giltwood frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
This characterful study of an oriental man in profile belongs to a large group of drawings that have been classified as sole figure vestite. This title is given to an album, now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, that contains eighty-nine such studies of standing figures.1 Like both the Holy Family and Head Study series, very rarely has a link been established between the standing draped figures and any paintings. They seem to have been intended as drawings in their own right, and date from about 1750 onwards.
It now seems probable that among the volumes of Tiepolo drawings in Edward Cheney’s Collection there were four that contained studies of single figures, plus two of standing figures and two of figures for ceilings. While one of the volumes of the single figures remained intact, finding a home in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the other three were sold at Christie’s in 1914, and subsequently dispersed by Parsons and Sons.2 Many sheets from these albums are today to be found in leading museums worldwide, and others are in private collections.
Another very similar figure of an oriental man with hands outstretched, though facing in the opposite direction to this figure, was sold in these Rooms on 25 January 2012 (lot 113).
The sole figure vestite demonstrate yet another facet to Giovanni Battista’s talent and show the artist experimenting with various stances and nuances within a seemingly restrictive theme, yet one that does not seem to impede the artist’s imagination; Tiepolo still manages to give each figure its own individual character and personality.
1. Tiepolo A Bicentenary Exhibition 1770-1970 Drawings, mainly from American collections by Giambattista Tiepolo and the members of his circle, exhib. cat., Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum, 1970, under no. 71
2. J. Byam Shaw & G. Knox, The Robert Lehman Collection VI, Italian Eighteenth Century Drawings, New York 1987, p. 111, under no. 83
It now seems probable that among the volumes of Tiepolo drawings in Edward Cheney’s Collection there were four that contained studies of single figures, plus two of standing figures and two of figures for ceilings. While one of the volumes of the single figures remained intact, finding a home in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the other three were sold at Christie’s in 1914, and subsequently dispersed by Parsons and Sons.2 Many sheets from these albums are today to be found in leading museums worldwide, and others are in private collections.
Another very similar figure of an oriental man with hands outstretched, though facing in the opposite direction to this figure, was sold in these Rooms on 25 January 2012 (lot 113).
The sole figure vestite demonstrate yet another facet to Giovanni Battista’s talent and show the artist experimenting with various stances and nuances within a seemingly restrictive theme, yet one that does not seem to impede the artist’s imagination; Tiepolo still manages to give each figure its own individual character and personality.
1. Tiepolo A Bicentenary Exhibition 1770-1970 Drawings, mainly from American collections by Giambattista Tiepolo and the members of his circle, exhib. cat., Harvard University, Fogg Art Museum, 1970, under no. 71
2. J. Byam Shaw & G. Knox, The Robert Lehman Collection VI, Italian Eighteenth Century Drawings, New York 1987, p. 111, under no. 83