The Head of a Young Man Looking Upwards to the Right

The Head of a Young Man Looking Upwards to the Right is a masterful drawing by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, executed between 1747 and 1752. This study employs a complex technique often described as trois-crayons, utilizing red chalk layered over a base of black chalk, and dramatically heightened with brilliant white chalk. Tiepolo further employed stumping to soften the transitions and add subtlety to the shading, creating a vivid sense of volume and texture in the figure’s face and drapery.

The drawing captures the expressive intensity of the young subject. His dramatically illuminated upward gaze suggests this work was likely a modello or preliminary study for a larger fresco or ceiling decoration, typical commissions for the prolific artist during this period. As one of the foremost decorative painters of 18th-century Venice, Italy, Tiepolo’s preparatory sketches reveal the technical precision required for his ambitious monumental compositions.

The meticulous detail and skillful handling of light demonstrate the technical virtuosity underlying the artist’s grand paintings. While originally intended as a private study, the drawing stands as an accomplished work in its own right, showcasing the refinement of Italian draftsmanship during the transition from the Baroque to the Rococo era. Today, high-quality digital prints of this remarkable piece are often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing broader access to Tiepolo's genius. This significant drawing is housed in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.