Giovanni Battista Piazzetta
A young man wearing a turban, looking to the left
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Giovanni Battista Piazzetta
(Venice 1682 - 1754)
A young man wearing a turban, looking to the left
Black chalk heightened with white, on faded light blue paper;
all contours indented for transfer
362 by 297 mm
Antonio Morassi (1893- 1976), Milan (L.143a)
This study of a young man wearing a turban is part of a large series of drawings known as 'Teste di Carattere'. Piazzetta established his international reputation as a skillful and talented draftsman producing handsome finished head studies, intended as works of art in their own right to be framed and displayed along painted compositions. These works were very much in demand with collectors and more affordable than a painting.
The popularity of these head studies grew when Piazzetta gave his drawings to be engraved. Though no engraving is known today that corresponds to this study, the contours of the drawing have been indented with a stylus for transfer.
The drawing was owned by the famous art historian Antonio Morassi who was renowned for his knowledge of 18th century Venetian art and especially interested in Old Master Drawings, which he collected.
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