Magician with four Figures near a smoking Altar, from the Scherzi

Magician with four Figures near a smoking Altar, from the Scherzi by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, is a masterful example of 18th-century Italian printmaking. Executed during the artist’s mature period, approximately between 1738 and 1757, this work is an etching, specifically representing the extremely rare first state out of two documented versions. This print belongs to Tiepolo’s celebrated series, the Scherzi di Fantasia (Caprices of the Imagination), which allowed the artist to explore more intimate, mysterious, and highly atmospheric subjects outside the scope of his grand fresco commissions.

The composition focuses on arcane ritual and the dramatic arts of the men depicted. A commanding figure identified as a magician stands central, overseeing an enigmatic ceremony near a burning brazier or smoking altar. He is surrounded by four other figures, reinforcing the sense of clandestine activity and exoticism typical of the Scherzi. Tiepolo’s technique in this medium is defined by brilliant, energetic line work and deep cross-hatching, which creates high contrasts and powerful chiaroscuro that amplify the dramatic intensity inherent in these occult themes.

As a print, the Magician with four Figures near a smoking Altar demonstrates Tiepolo’s inventive command of the etching needle to achieve complex textures and atmospheric depth, cementing his reputation as a key figure in Venetian graphic arts. The work illustrates the eighteenth-century fascination with antiquity, mysticism, and the pseudo-sciences. Today, this historically significant print resides within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it contributes to the study of early modern graphic arts and is often viewed through public domain initiatives.