Seated Youth Leaning Against an Urn

"Seated Youth Leaning Against an Urn" is an arresting print created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1785. Although the great Italian master died in 1770, this dating often reflects the period when the plate was completed or the print was pulled, typically by his son, Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, who meticulously carried on the family’s graphic tradition. This etching on laid paper falls squarely within the 1776 to 1800 timeframe, showcasing the refined printmaking techniques that dominated the late eighteenth century.

The work depicts a solitary, contemplative figure: a youth resting against a large, decorative urn, suggesting a setting of antiquity or possibly a commemorative monument. The composition is intimate, relying on the contrast between areas of deep shadow and subtle light, achieved through the precise use of the etching needle. Tiepolo, or his successor, masterfully employs varied hatching and stippling to render the texture of the drapery and the weight of the stone urn, imparting a sense of quiet drama to the scene. The subtle detail achieved in these types of prints allowed for broader distribution, ensuring the wide dissemination of the Venetian school’s inventive compositions across Europe.

This powerful example of figural study, characteristic of the stylistic practices established by Tiepolo, is part of the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. The preservation of these delicate eighteenth-century prints ensures continued scholarly access to the foundational elements of Italian drawing and design. As a historical work, the image is often considered part of the public domain, allowing enthusiasts and researchers worldwide to study this important late work by the Tiepolo circle.