Head of a Bearded Man

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo was son, student, assistant and colleague of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696–1770), one of the most notable Venetian decorative painters of the 18th century.

As well as extensive frescos, he produced numerous drawings and small-scale oil paintings, which were extremely popular.
His Head of a Bearded Man is characteristic of his work. In a sensitive rendering of figure, light and colour, he shows an elderly man marked by life, gazing at the viewer from deep-set eyes. The sculptural quality of beard, fur collar and face is achieved by delicate colour gradation. Using only a few colour nuances, the artist has created a harmonious overall effect.