Scherzi di Fantasia: Satyr Family with the Obelisk

Scherzi di Fantasia: Satyr Family with the Obelisk is an etching created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo sometime between 1745 and 1765. This piece belongs to a specific set of twenty-three prints known collectively as the Scherzi di Fantasia (Caprices of Fantasy), a series characterized by its enigmatic, often unsettling subjects and experimental technique. Working in Italy, Tiepolo employed the demanding etching process to explore the darker, more intimate aspects of the imagination, contrasting sharply with the brilliant palette of his contemporary fresco commissions.

The composition centers on a satyr family, depicted amidst fragmented classical ruins. The fantastical scene is dominated by a towering obelisk that emphasizes the scale and atmosphere of the imagined landscape. Unlike the clear narratives of his grand ceiling paintings, this etching provided Tiepolo the opportunity to focus purely on mood and atmosphere. He utilized dense cross-hatching and varied line work characteristic of the etching medium to manipulate light and shadow, highlighting the capriciousness of the scene where figures of classical mythology mingle with decaying ancient structures.

Tiepolo’s innovative approach to prints proved highly influential on subsequent generations of European artists interested in the aesthetic possibilities of ruins. Produced during the height of the Rococo period in Italy, this work demonstrates the artist's profound versatility beyond painting. The intricate details of the finished etching are now preserved in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of its historical significance, the image is frequently reproduced in studies of 18th-century Italian art, with high-quality prints often made available through public domain initiatives.