Caricature of a Man in a Mask and a Cloak, Holding a Muff and a Tricorne, Standing in Profile to the Left

The detailed drawing, Caricature of a Man in a Mask and a Cloak, Holding a Muff and a Tricorne, Standing in Profile to the Left, was created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo between 1755 and 1765. Executed with remarkable precision in pen and brown ink with the application of brown wash, this work showcases Tiepolo’s fluid draftsmanship and his keen interest in contemporary social observation. Drawings of this type were often circulated privately among connoisseurs, serving as standalone humorous studies focusing on specific personalities and fashionable Venetian attire.

The subject is rendered sharply in profile, emphasizing the highly exaggerated features typical of a caricature. The figure is elaborately dressed, wearing a long cloak and hiding his identity behind a mask, or bauta. The accessories-the large hand muff and the three-cornered tricorne hat-are clear markers of aristocratic or wealthy status in Venice during this period. Tiepolo often utilized the popular cultural subject of men in disguise to satirize or observe the behaviors of high society, particularly during the lengthy carnival season when masks were pervasive and social rules were relaxed.

This piece, classified as a significant eighteenth-century drawing, resides in the renowned collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The drawing remains an essential document for understanding both Tiepolo’s diverse artistic output and the visual culture of late Rococo Venice. Given the age and historical importance of the work, this study by Tiepolo is frequently referenced in art historical contexts, and many high-resolution images are now available for study, placing this master drawing into the public domain for appreciation and academic research.