Standing Man in a Turban, Holding a Sword

The masterful drawing Standing Man in a Turban, Holding a Sword was executed by the renowned Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770). This powerful graphic work utilizes a refined combination of materials: pen and dark brown ink, brush and brown wash, applied over preliminary sketches in black chalk. This layered approach is signature to Tiepolo’s preparatory work, where the precise lines of the pen define contours while the broad application of the wash quickly models form, creating dramatic depth and shadow.

The subject is an imposing depiction of a man presented in a theatrical, almost confrontational stance. His attire, marked by the distinctive turban and the prominently displayed sword, identifies him as an exotic character frequently employed in eighteenth-century Italian art, often representing figures from the Middle East or serving as stock types in dramatic narratives. Tiepolo’s technical mastery allowed him to imbue this quickly rendered study with a sense of monumental presence, demonstrating his sophisticated understanding of Baroque compositional principles even in small-scale works.

Tiepolo’s prolific output spanned the Rococo era, extending across monumental frescoes, oil paintings, and thousands of drawings like this one. This particular drawing now resides in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, serving as a critical example of the artist’s contribution to European graphic arts. Due to its age and historical classification, the work often enters the public domain, ensuring its availability to scholars worldwide. High-quality prints of this remarkable drawing are frequently distributed, allowing broader access to one of the most celebrated men of the Venetian Rococo.