The Rider Standing by His Horse, from Capricci

The Rider Standing by His Horse, from Capricci is an influential etching on paper created by the Italian master Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696–1770) between 1740 and 1750. This piece is part of Tiepolo’s celebrated series of prints known as the Capricci (Caprices or Fantasies). These graphic works allowed the Venetian artist to experiment intimately with light, shadow, and compositional complexity outside the constraints of his large-scale fresco commissions. The precise technique of etching permitted Tiepolo to achieve finely wrought lines and deep contrasts, emphasizing atmospheric effects and dramatic visual texture.

In this particular study, Tiepolo focuses the viewer’s attention on the central figure of a standing rider, whose posture suggests contemplation or rest, positioned adjacent to his powerful horse. The composition, characteristic of the capriccio genre, is a fanciful assembly of figures and suggested ruins, defying the specific cultural markers of traditional history painting. Though rooted in 18th-century Italy, the setting emphasizes psychological mood and visual drama rather than specific narrative clarity. Tiepolo’s masterful handling of line in these prints profoundly influenced subsequent generations of European graphic artists.

The Art Institute of Chicago holds this notable impression within its comprehensive collection of European prints. As a foundational example of 18th-century Italian printmaking, this work demonstrates the versatility of Tiepolo beyond his well-known monumental paintings. Today, high-quality images of this piece, like many masterworks from this period, are often available for educational study as part of the growing body of works entering the public domain.