A magician, a soldier and three figures watching a burning skull from the Scherzi di Fantasia

A magician, a soldier and three figures watching a burning skull from the Scherzi di Fantasia is an enigmatic etching created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, dating from the pivotal period of 1738 to 1755. This impression is classified as the first state of two, capturing the artist's initial execution of the composition on the copper plate before any further refinements or alterations. The work belongs to the highly influential series known as the Scherzi di Fantasia (literally "Fantastical Jokes" or "Caprices"), a collection of prints that allowed Tiepolo to explore themes distinctly separate from his large-scale decorative fresco commissions.

The composition epitomizes the dramatic and often macabre nature of the Scherzi. Gathered in a sparse landscape, the figures-including men and women-are engaged in an arcane rite centered on a mysterious, burning skull. The scene features the series’ characteristic cast of characters, specifically a brooding magician and an armored soldier, lending the atmosphere a feeling of ancient, melancholic ritual. Tiepolo masterfully employs etching techniques to manipulate light and shadow, highlighting the theatricality of the encounter between the living observers and the stark reminder of mortality presented by the skull.

While Tiepolo is best known as the foremost Venetian painter of the Rococo period, his graphic arts reveal a profound command of intimate narrative and dramatic composition. This significant piece of Baroque graphic art resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The lasting influence of these prints on subsequent generations of artists underscores Tiepolo's dual mastery in both massive painting and detailed etching. Many impressions of these historic prints are now considered part of the public domain, ensuring the widespread study and appreciation of this unique facet of the artist's output.