Shopping at Venice

Giovanni Tiepolo

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Giovanni Tiepolo. The drawing shows a merchant in a striped shirt displaying a tray of his wares to a lady and gentleman. The lady is wearing a long dress with a sash and a hat with trailing ribbons, and the gentleman is wearing a three-cornered hat. In the background several other figures are inspecting a food stall. Groceries such as hams and sausages are hung from the wall and ceiling, and the shopkeeper's hand can be seen reaching up for an item. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 11 GIOVANNI DOMENICO TIEPOLO (b. 1727; d. 1804) SHOPPING AT VENICE Collection of Henry Oppenheimer Esq. Pen and sepia, and sepia wash, showing signs of a preliminary sketch in black chalk. Signed and dated 1791. 29.8 x 22.2 cm. (11 3/4 x 8 3/4 in.). A lady and gentleman pause in the street to inspect some small merchandise offered to them on a tray, and the gentleman makes a gesture with his right hand as if to bid the vendor bring the wares to his palazzo. Meanwhile a row of less aristocratic customers is eagerly inspecting the shop of a provision merchant, whose goods - onions, sausages, hams, and the like - are strung from the ceiling or from nails upon the wall. The shopkeeper is reaching up to detach one of these delicacies from its elevated position. Drawings of secular, every-day subjects by the younger Tiepolo are seldom seen, but there are several in the Louvre. This excellent sketch of Venetian street life shows him in a mood somewhat akin to Rowlandson's. C. D."