DISCOVERART

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Punchinello Collapses on the Road

c. 1791
Pen and brown ink and brush and brown washes, over traces of charcoal, on off-white laid paper, with framing lines in pen and brown ink
36 × 47.5 cm (14.2 × 18.7 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Between 1797 and his death in 1804, Domenico Tiepolo created 104 inventive wash drawings for what he called Divertimenti per li ragazzi (diversions for children). This series described the life, from birth to death, of the tragicomic commedia dell’arte figure Punchinello (identified by his conical hat and beaked mask), in a loosely structured tale of an everyman. In Punchinello Collapses on the Road, we see the protagonist, surrounded by eleven of his companions and three lamenting women, in the final days before his death. While Punchinello is indeed a kind of everyman, Tiepolo also made references throughout the series to the life of Christ. This drawing calls to mind one of Christ’s falls as he carried the cross.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Portrait of a WomanPortrait of a WomanA Dance in the CountryA Dance in the CountryHead of a PhilosopherHead of a PhilosopherThe Departure of the GondolaThe Departure of the GondolaThe Sacrifice of IsaacThe Sacrifice of IsaacThe Glorification of the Giustiniani FamilyThe Glorification of the Giustiniani FamilyAllegorical Figure Representing AfricaAllegorical Figure Representing AfricaAllegorical Figure Representing AmericaAllegorical Figure Representing America

More like this

The Woman with a TambourineGiovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727–1804) — The Woman wGathering WoodGiovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Italian, 1727–1804) — Gathering WStudy for "The Revolt of Cairo"Anne-Louis Girodet de Roucy-Trioson (French, 1767–1824) — StVendor of HoroscopesErcole Setti — Vendor of HoroscopesMassacre of the InnocentsPietro Dandini — Massacre of the InnocentsScene from Ancient HistoryGiuseppe Piattoli — Scene from Ancient HistoryThe Triumph of DavidFrancesco Solimena — The Triumph of DavidThe Large Lion HuntRembrandt van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669) — The Large Lion HuntSoldiers Trying to Prevent Two Men From FightingGiovanni Battista Tiepolo — Soldiers Trying to Prevent Two MFigure studies: seated and standing menSalvator Rosa — Figure studies: seated and standing menStudy for an Engraving of "Songs in the Opera of Flora"Hubert François Gravelot — Study for an Engraving of "Songs Study for Meo PataccaBartolomeo Pinelli — Study for Meo Patacca