The Head of a Young Man in Profile to the Left (recto); Studies of Allegorical Figures (verso)

The drawing The Head of a Young Man in Profile to the Left (recto); Studies of Allegorical Figures (verso) by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Italian, 1696-1770, is a masterful example of 18th-century draftsmanship. Executed between 1749 and 1753, the work primarily utilizes red chalk, enhanced by subtle touches of white chalk, on distinctively blue laid paper. This technical combination of colored chalks against a toned background, allowing for the rapid modeling of light and shadow, was typical of preparatory studies created by artists of the period. The recto focuses intensely on the profile study of a young male model, a detailed examination of form and expression that was likely intended as a reference for a figure within one of the grand narrative fresco cycles Tiepolo was undertaking in Italy during the height of his career.

The reverse side of the sheet contains smaller, dynamic Studies of Allegorical Figures, demonstrating Tiepolo’s quick handling of the red chalk medium as he experimented with compositional elements. Drawings such as this served a crucial role in the Italian artistic process, functioning as direct preparatory sketches for larger oil paintings or monumental ceiling decorations. The presence of blind incising visible around the recto edge suggests that the profile composition may have been transferred or used directly in the workshop setting. This important drawing resides in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, providing significant insight into the planning and execution methods of the leading Venetian master of the mid-18th century. Today, this drawing, representative of Tiepolo’s prolific output, is a valued resource often referenced in studies of 18th-century artistic techniques and public domain art materials.