Artwork
Arms of Karl Philip von Greiffenklau, Prince-Bishop of Wurzburg
Arms of Karl Philip von Greiffenklau, Prince-Bishop of Wurzburg is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo produced an etching in 1753 that records the heraldic emblem of Karl Philip von Greiffenklau, the Prince‑Bishop of Würzburg. Executed as a single printed sheet, the work presents the bishop’s coat of arms surrounded by ornamental figures and a stylised urban landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif is the Prince‑Bishop’s insignia: a shield topped by a crown and bearing a cross, symbols of his ecclesiastical and secular authority. Flanking the shield, angelic figures and other decorative elements underscore the spiritual dimension of his office while the background cityscape alludes to his temporal jurisdiction.
Technique & Style
Tiepolo employed the etching process, incising lines into a copper plate and printing them with ink to achieve fine detail. The composition relies on contrasts of light and shadow to model forms, giving the figures a sense of depth and kinetic energy. The intricate line work reflects the artist’s training in both painting and printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created during the mid‑18th century, the print forms part of Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo’s broader output as a painter and printmaker, following the artistic lineage of his father, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It was likely commissioned to commemorate the Prince‑Bishop’s status and to circulate his heraldic image within ecclesiastical and civic circles.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.
