Two Magicians and a Child, from Scherzi

Two Magicians and a Child, from Scherzi is a sophisticated etching created by the renowned Italian artist, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Italian, 1696–1770, dating from the years 1735-1740. This print exemplifies the innovative graphic output of the Venetian Rococo master, who utilized the medium to explore themes distinct from his grand fresco cycles.

Produced using the etching technique on paper, this work belongs to Tiepolo’s celebrated Scherzi di fantasia (Caprices) series. These prints allowed the artist to delve into darker, more intimate subject matter rooted in allegory and esoteric fantasy. The execution displays a dramatic play of light and shadow, utilizing delicate lines and cross-hatching to define form. These Scherzi are pivotal examples of 18th-century graphic arts in Italy, demonstrating the artist’s technical virtuosity in a smaller, concentrated format.

The composition features two imposing, robed magicians engaged in conversation or ritual, accompanied by a small child who gazes outward. The ambiguous narrative and dramatic costuming lend the scene an air of mystery and the occult, typical of the capriccio genre that favored imaginative, non-specific subjects. This focus on bizarre figures and atmospheric density contrasts sharply with the airy, light-filled quality of Tiepolo’s large-scale religious and mythological canvases.

Tiepolo’s prints remain highly influential studies of form and expression. Today, high-resolution prints of this historical work are often found in public domain archives, allowing wider access to the nuances of the artist's graphic style. This specific impression of Two Magicians and a Child, from Scherzi is held within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.