Fine Art Poster
From $29
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
Man's Head on Pyre - Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Regular price
$29.00 USD
Sale price
$29.00 USD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
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Made to order
Description
An enigmatic etching from the Scherzi di Fantasia series by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, featuring figures gathered around a mysterious pyre.
This etching by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo belongs to the series known as the Scherzi di Fantasia. These works are characterised by their enigmatic subject matter, often featuring figures in exotic or classical attire within atmospheric, ruinous settings. The composition depicts a group of figures gathered around a pyre, with a severed head placed prominently upon it. The scene is rendered with the artist's signature economy of line, where sparse hatching creates form and shadow without cluttering the visual field.
Tiepolo employs a light, airy touch that is typical of his graphic work. The figures, dressed in turbans and flowing garments, suggest a Mediterranean or Near Eastern context, common in the artist's imaginative output. The presence of an owl, perched near the base of a crumbling stone structure, adds a layer of mystery to the narrative. The etching demonstrates a mastery of the medium, using varied line weights to define the textures of stone, fabric, and foliage. The background remains largely open, allowing the focus to remain on the interaction between the figures and the grim object at the centre of their attention.
Unlike his large-scale frescoes, which often served religious or state functions, the Scherzi were personal explorations of style and theme. They reflect the artist's interest in the grotesque and the fantastical, themes that were popular among the intellectual circles of 18th-century Venice. The print captures a moment of quiet contemplation, devoid of the typical drama found in historical paintings of the period. The work remains an example of Tiepolo's ability to create a sense of place and mood through minimal means, inviting the viewer to interpret the scene without the guidance of a clear literary or historical source.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
Man's Head on Pyre - Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Regular price
From $29.00 USD
Sale price
From $29.00 USD
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Tiepolo's father was a small shipping merchant who bore a famous Venetian patrician name without any claim to noble descent. The gap between the name and the reality may have sharpened the son's ambition. By mid-career he was the most sought-after ceiling painter in Europe, working for bishops, princes and kings across Italy, Germany and Spain.
He was born in Venice in 1696, the youngest of six children. His father died about a year later, leaving his mother to raise the family in difficult circumstances. At fourteen he was apprenticed to Gregorio Lazzarini, a painter of eclectic style. His early work was dark and heavy, but after his marriage to Maria Cecilia Guardi in 1719, his palette brightened and his touch became lighter and more fluid. The transformation was radical: the sombre young painter became the most luminous colourist of the eighteenth century.
His ceiling fresco at the Wurzburg Residence (1750 to 1753), painted for the Prince-Bishop, is the largest fresco in the world and the supreme achievement of Baroque illusionistic decoration. He travelled there with his sons Domenico and Lorenzo, who served as assistants throughout his career. Tiepolo and his wife had nine children in total; four daughters and three sons survived to adulthood.
In 1755 he was elected Director of the Accademia in Venice. In 1762 he moved with his sons to Madrid at the invitation of Charles III of Spain to decorate the Royal Palace. The Spanish court favoured the cooler Neoclassicism of Anton Raphael Mengs, and Tiepolo found himself outmanoeuvred. He died in Madrid in 1770, at seventy-four, his Rococo exuberance already passing out of fashion.
He was born in Venice in 1696, the youngest of six children. His father died about a year later, leaving his mother to raise the family in difficult circumstances. At fourteen he was apprenticed to Gregorio Lazzarini, a painter of eclectic style. His early work was dark and heavy, but after his marriage to Maria Cecilia Guardi in 1719, his palette brightened and his touch became lighter and more fluid. The transformation was radical: the sombre young painter became the most luminous colourist of the eighteenth century.
His ceiling fresco at the Wurzburg Residence (1750 to 1753), painted for the Prince-Bishop, is the largest fresco in the world and the supreme achievement of Baroque illusionistic decoration. He travelled there with his sons Domenico and Lorenzo, who served as assistants throughout his career. Tiepolo and his wife had nine children in total; four daughters and three sons survived to adulthood.
In 1755 he was elected Director of the Accademia in Venice. In 1762 he moved with his sons to Madrid at the invitation of Charles III of Spain to decorate the Royal Palace. The Spanish court favoured the cooler Neoclassicism of Anton Raphael Mengs, and Tiepolo found himself outmanoeuvred. He died in Madrid in 1770, at seventy-four, his Rococo exuberance already passing out of fashion.
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Fine Art Framed
From $89
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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