May 26, 2026

Show Notes: s2e38 The Venetians, Tiepolo

In s2e38, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part three of three in which we talk about father and son, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. Shift your gaze from the canals to the clouds as we explore the whimsical, light-filled world of GB Tiepolo. A master of the Rococo, Tiepolo brought a sense of effortless spontaneity to his etchings, moving his needle with the fluidity of a pen. We break down his transition into the world of "Scherzi di Fantasia," where mythical scenes and fantastical themes come to life with remarkable finesse. Unlike the rigid reproductions of the past, Tiepolo’s prints offer a personal narrative and a direct line to his wildest fantasies, proving why he remains one of the most enchanting storytellers in the history of art.

Alessandro Longhi (Italian, 1733–1813). Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, n.d. Etching. Plate: 7 9/16 x 5 13/16 in. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Ceiling fresco at Wurzburg Residence, 1752–53. Fresco. 3200 x 1900 cm.

Pietro Monaco (Italian, 1710–after 1775). Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, printed 1785. Etching. 21.9 x 16.2 cm. Christies.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Title Page from Vari Capricci, 1735. Etching. Sheet: 6 7/16 x 8 5/5 in.; plate: 4 ½ x 6 ½ in. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Vari Capricci, 1735. Set of 11 etchings. Royal Collection, London.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Three soldiers and a youth lying on a his abdomen in a landscape from Vari Capricci, 1735. Etching. Royal Collection, London.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). A Nymph with a Small Satyr and Two Goats, 1735. Etching. Royal Collection, London.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Young soldier and the astrologer from Vari Capricci, 1735. Etching. Royal Collection, London.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Standing Philosopher and two other figures from Vari Capricci, 1735. Etching. Royal Collection, London.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Death Giving Audience, 1743. Etching. Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740-50. Set of 23 etchings. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.1-23.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Fontispiece from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.1.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Frontispiece from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Alamy.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Two Magicians and a child from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.3.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Bacchant, Satyr, and Fauness from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.4.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Six people watching a snake from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.5.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). The Family of the oriental peasant from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.6.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Magician with four figures near a smoking altar from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–52. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.7.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). The Philosopher from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.8.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Woman Keeling in front of magicians and other figures from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.9.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). A Mother with two children from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.10.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Half-dressed Nymph with two children from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.11.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Two Astrologers and a boy from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.12.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Three Magicians burning a snake from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.13.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Three men standing beside a horse from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.14.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Two magicians and two boys from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.15.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). The Discovery of the Tomb of Punchinello from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.17.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Two figures attentive to Punchinello, with others from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.18.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Satyr Family from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.19.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Magician pointing out a burning head to two youths from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.20.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Satyr Family with the obelisk from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.21.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). A Magician, a soldier, and three figures watching a burning skull from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.22.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). A Shepherd with two magicians from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1740. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.23.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Seated Magician, boy, and four figures from Scherzi di Fantasia, c. 1743–50. Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1976.537.24.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Rest on the Flight, plate 13 from The Flight into Egypt , 1750, published 1753. Etching. 7 5/8 x 9 ¾ in. Art Institute of Chicago.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770). Adoration of the Magi, c. 1753. Etching. 17 x 11 3/8 in. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727–1804). Via Crucis, 1749. Set of 14 etchings. Platemark (each): 8 11/16 x 7 5/16 in. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727–1804). Title page from The Flight into Egypt, 1752. Etching. Plate: 7 ½ x 9 11/16 in. RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727–1804). Plate 20 from The Flight into Egypt, 1752. Etching. Plate: 7 ½ x 9 11/16 in. RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727–1804). Plate 9 from The Flight into Egypt, 1752. Etching. Plate: 7 ½ x 9 11/16 in. RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727–1804). Plate 7 from The Flight into Egypt, 1752. Etching. Plate: 7 ½ x 9 11/16 in. RISD Museum, Providence, RI.

Ann Shafer

Curator / Podcaster / Fair Organizer

Ann Shafer is an independent curator, art historian, and a leading expert on the legacy of Stanley William Hayter and Atelier 17. As the creator and host of the Platemark podcast, she bridges the gap between technical print scholarship and the global community of artists and collectors.

Ann previously served as Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art and has held curatorial positions at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the National Gallery of Art. She holds a BA from The College of Wooster and an MA from Williams College. Today, she channels her three decades of expertise into organizing the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair, co-editing a major centennial festschrift on Atelier 17, and leading curated art history tours across Europe. (Photo credit: Becky Redett)

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Show Notes: s2e37 The Venetians, Canaletto

In s2e37, Ann and Tru continue their History-of-Prints conversation about Venice in the 18th century. This is part two of three in which we talk about Canaletto. While often remembered as a topographical painter of postcards, Canaletto was, in fact,…