Young Shepherds and Old Man with a Monkey, from Scherzi

"Young Shepherds and Old Man with a Monkey, from Scherzi" is an exceptional etching by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Italian, 1696–1770, dating from the period 1735-1740. This print, executed in black ink on paper, belongs to the artist's famed series of imaginative capricci prints, known collectively as the Scherzi di Fantasia. Tiepolo, celebrated primarily as the grand fresco painter of the Italian Rococo period, demonstrated a contrasting, intimate mastery in his printmaking endeavors, utilizing the technique to explore complex and mysterious subject matter outside the constraints of large-scale commissions.

The scene depicts an enigmatic gathering typical of the Scherzi series. Central to the composition are young shepherds and an old, heavily cloaked figure who observes them alongside the titular monkey, an animal often used in European art as a symbol of folly, mischief, or allegorical knowledge. Tiepolo utilized the etching technique with characteristic fluency, employing delicate, broken lines and distinct cross-hatching to create deep shadows and luminous highlights. This distinctive treatment gives the figures a dramatic, sculptural presence against the atmospheric background.

These experimental Italian prints solidified Tiepolo’s reputation not just as a grand decorator but as a sophisticated draftsman whose graphic work influenced subsequent generations of artists across Europe. While created in the 1730s, the mood and dramatic lighting of the work anticipate the later romanticized aesthetics of the late 18th century. This important example of 18th-century prints is classified as a print and resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Many such masterworks are now available through public domain resources.