Three Men standing beside a Horse, from the Scherzi

"Three Men standing beside a Horse, from the Scherzi" is a pivotal etching by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, created between 1725 and 1780 as part of his influential Scherzi di fantasia series. The classification of this piece as a print highlights Tiepolo’s significant output beyond his monumental fresco and oil commissions. The sophisticated etching technique employed allowed the Venetian master to explore intimate, often mysterious compositions that contrast sharply with the clarity of his decorative cycles. Tiepolo’s Scherzi (Caprices or Whims) are renowned for their cryptic subject matter, focusing on enigmatic figures and unsettling juxtapositions that reflect the burgeoning interest in the irrational and sublime in 18th-century European art.

The scene depicts three Men gathered around a stately Horse, an animal often symbolizing classical antiquity or military power in Italian visual culture. However, the presence of the Owl, traditionally associated with melancholy, wisdom, or night, adds a distinctly arcane or theatrical atmosphere to the gathering. The figures appear engaged in quiet contemplation or perhaps ritual, emphasizing the deep imaginative quality found throughout this series of prints. The precision and tonal variation demonstrated in the work confirm Tiepolo's standing as a master printmaker. This important etching resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. As an established work of an 18th-century master, high-resolution images of this piece are frequently available in the public domain, ensuring global access to Tiepolo's profound artistic explorations.