Death Giving Audience, from Capricci

Death Giving Audience, from Capricci is an evocative etching on paper created by the prolific Italian master Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696–1770) sometime between 1740 and 1750. This print belongs to the artist's renowned series, the Capricci (or "Caprices"), a collection of dark, imaginative works that sharply contrast with the buoyant Rococo style found in his large-scale fresco commissions. The utilization of the etching technique allowed Tiepolo to achieve dramatic plays of light and deep shadows, emphasizing the unsettling and often melancholic nature of his chosen subject matter.

The subject is a classic memento mori, personifying Death as a skeletal figure granting an audience. The composition is structured around this allegorical interaction, typically set among fragments of classical ruins and debris, which serve as potent symbols of vanity and the transient nature of human achievement. Tiepolo’s treatment of these scenes reflects the contemporary fascination in Italy with antiquity and decay, filtering these elements through a highly personal and fantastic lens characteristic of the capriccio genre.

While 1696–1770 is primarily known for his grand decorative paintings, the Capricci etchings demonstrate his masterful command of graphic arts and his profound influence on subsequent printmakers. These pieces were highly innovative for their time, pushing the boundaries of fantasy and narrative within the print medium. This specific impression of the print, Death Giving Audience, is held within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As an important piece of 18th-century Italian printmaking, the work is often referenced by researchers, and high-quality images of this masterwork are frequently made available through public domain initiatives.