Artwork
The Head of a Young Man Looking Upwards to the Right
The Head of a Young Man Looking Upwards to the Right is a drawing by the Baroque artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Head of a Young Man Looking Upwards to the Right is a drawing by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, dated to 1752, and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a youthful male figure in profile, gazing upwards and to the right, conveying a sense of contemplation or engagement with something outside the frame. The subject’s identity remains unspecified, suggesting the work may be a study of expression or a character sketch rather than a portrait.
Technique & Style
Executed in a rapid, loose manner, the drawing emphasizes the face’s structural elements through rough shading, defining the nose, cheek, and jaw. The sketchy treatment of the neck and hair contrasts with the more defined facial features, characteristic of preliminary studies for larger works. The technique anticipates a softer, more blended finish, akin to sfumato, in a potential final painting.
History & Provenance
Created in 1752, the drawing’s history prior to its acquisition by The Cleveland Museum of Art is not detailed here, highlighting the need for further research into its provenance.
Context
This work reflects Tiepolo’s practice of creating quick, expressive studies to explore composition, expression, and technique before embarking on more finished pieces, likely paintings.
Legacy
As a characteristic example of Tiepolo’s preparatory sketches, the drawing offers insight into the artist’s creative process and the development of his expressive, dynamic style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
Head Study of a Young Man Looking Upward
Head of a Man Looking Up
Head of a Young Man
Study of the Head of a Youth Gazing Upward
Head of a Young Man in Profile
Head of a Man Looking Up to the Right
Head of a Man Looking Upwards and Sideways
Head of a Man Facing Left
Head of a Young Man
Head of a Young Man (recto)
Head of a Man Turned Left