Caricature Profile of a Man in a High Cap
Drawing on paper • Circle of Pier Leone Ghezzi or manner of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Style & Movement
Late Baroque / Rococo Caricature
Medium & Technique
Pen and brown ink (iron gall ink or bistre) on antique laid paper; hatching and cross-hatching technique
Creation Period
circa 1730-1760
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 15 x 12 cm; Portrait orientation; Fragmentary
Subject Description
A profile study of a bearded man wearing a distinctive tall, striped cap. The subject is rendered with heavy, rhythmic line work and stylized facial features characteristic of 18th-century Italian caricature. The expression is slightly exaggerated, focusing on the hooked nose and the texture of the facial hair.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Poor; Significant structural damage and biological staining
Estimated Market Value
500 - 1,200 USD (subject to authentication/attribution)
Auction Estimate
400 - 800 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; The paper shows signs of age consistent with a private collection or discarded scrapbook assembly. Potential for it being a leaf from a dispersed sketchbook (taccuino).
Art Historical Significance
Represents the 18th-century obsession with physiognomy and caricature, popularized by artists like Ghezzi in Rome. These sketches were often produced as social entertainment among upper-class circles and artists.
Notable Features
The use of 'shorthand' hatching to define volume suggests a practiced hand familiar with the Italian graphic tradition. The iron gall ink shows characteristic slight feathered bleed into the paper fibers.
Condition Issues
Large jagged tear running horizontally through the upper third; severe foxing and moisture spotting; loss of paper at the top right corner; acidic discoloration (browning/oxidation).
Conservation Recommendations
Requires professional paper conservation (washing for acidity, deacidification, and mending of the tear with Japanese tissue). Should be mounted on acid-free matting and kept away from UV light.