Artwork
Various Caprices: The Cavalier Mounting his Horse
Various Caprices: The Cavalier Mounting his Horse is a print by the Baroque artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It dates from 1742 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo produced the print titled Various Caprices: The Cavalier Mounting his Horse in 1742. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of the artist’s lively graphic output.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a gentleman in elaborate attire, complete with a broad hat, in the act of mounting a horse. The composition conveys a sense of swift motion, suggesting the figure is poised to embark on a hunt or a martial venture, reflecting the period’s fascination with heroic and adventurous narratives.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the piece employs strong contrasts of light and dark that echo the chiaroscuro technique, heightening the three‑dimensionality of the rider and his mount. Tiepolo’s handling of line and shading creates a dynamic rhythm, emphasizing the tension of the moment and the theatricality typical of his capricious subjects.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑18th century, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century. Its presence in the museum’s print and drawing department underscores the institution’s commitment to representing the breadth of Tiepolo’s oeuvre beyond his monumental frescoes.
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.
