Caricature of a Seated Man with a Book and a Cane

The Caricature of a Seated Man with a Book and a Cane is a masterful drawing executed by the celebrated Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo sometime between 1755 and 1765. This example of 18th-century graphic satire utilizes pen and brown ink and brown wash, applied dynamically over an initial sketch in black chalk. This economical yet expressive technique allows Tiepolo to achieve a highly spontaneous and immediate line, characteristic of his mature period drawings.

Tiepolo was highly proficient in the specialized genre of caricature, using visual exaggeration to depict the specific physical features and social foibles of the men and women who populated his contemporary world. The subject is shown seated, perhaps in a public setting or a private salon, holding accessories that subtly suggest status and intellect: a book and a cane. The artist’s manipulation of the sitter's features, particularly the prominent nose and slack posture, transforms the portrait into a work of humorous social commentary, a form of sophisticated visual wit popular among enlightened European elites.

As a prime example of Italian draftsmanship, the work highlights Tiepolo's remarkable fluidity and control, demonstrating his genius not just in monumental fresco painting, but also in intimate, detailed studies like this one. While the specific identity of the man remains unknown, Tiepolo's ability to quickly capture personality through distorted form ensures this drawing remains a compelling example of his inventive skill. This significant piece is currently held within the esteemed collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as an important record of 18th-century Venetian artistic practice.