Virtue Crowning a Bearded Man

"Virtue Crowning a Bearded Man" by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is an exceptional example of eighteenth-century Venetian draftsmanship, residing in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Executed using pen and brown ink, brush with pale and dark brown wash, over black chalk, the drawing showcases Tiepolo’s remarkable ability to create volumetric figures and dramatic light effects using layered washes. This highly skilled technique, combining structured chalk under-drawing with fluid, expressive washes, was crucial for the artist, often serving as a preliminary study or modello for the grand fresco cycles that defined his career.

The subject is clearly allegorical, depicting the personification of Virtue bestowing a laurel wreath upon an imposing, mature bearded man. While the precise identity of the figures is unspecified, the composition follows classical traditions common in the Venetian Rococo era, typically celebrating male figures honored for great military, political, or artistic achievement. Tiepolo masters the dynamic interaction between the figures, defining their form and guiding the viewer’s eye through the composition with quick, expressive lines and bold contrasts of light and shadow.

As a leading master of the Venetian school, Tiepolo’s drawings are highly valued as finished artworks in their own right, demonstrating his innovative approach to conveying drama and scale even in a reduced format. The expressive power captured in this piece is integral to understanding the artist's working method. As part of the Met’s vast holdings of preparatory works, high-resolution images of this drawing are sometimes released into the public domain, allowing enthusiasts and students to access and study the technical brilliance before acquiring fine art prints for personal collections.