The Astrologer and the Young Soldier, from Capricci

The Astrologer and the Young Soldier, from Capricci by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Italian, 1696–1770, is a masterful example of 18th-century Italian printmaking. Created between 1740 and 1750, this etching on paper belongs to the artist's celebrated series known as the Capricci, a set of compositions exploring themes of magic, ruin, and unexplained encounters. Tiepolo utilized the etching technique to achieve a stark contrast between deeply shadowed areas and bright highlights, emphasizing the dramatic and mysterious atmosphere characteristic of the capriccio genre.

The composition features an elderly astrologer consulting with a youthful soldier, likely interpreting a future suggested by the arcane objects surrounding them. This interplay between youth, age, and esoteric knowledge defines the piece's narrative tension. The rapid, spontaneous quality of the lines suggests the artist’s hand was translating sketches directly onto the copper plate, lending the work an immediacy often prized in high-quality prints. This graphic work showcases the Venetian master’s facility with light and shadow, demonstrating why his works were so sought after throughout Europe.

While Tiepolo is globally famous for his grand frescoes and large-scale paintings in Italy, his smaller graphic works, such as The Astrologer and the Young Soldier, reveal his inventive skill in a reduced format. This piece is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a key example of the master’s graphic output from the mid-1700s, this image is widely reproduced, and high-resolution versions of the print are often available in the public domain for study and appreciation.