Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (Venice 1682-1754)

Strongly inspired by Tiepolo, this expressive head study compares closely with a drawing of the same size and technique in the Klassik Stiftung, Weimar (inv. KK 8621; see Goethe collezionista e il disegno veneto del Settecento, Milan, 2009, no. 21, ill.). Both executed in red chalk, an unusual medium for the artist, the sheets were likely preparatory for a Saint Francis of Paola. The attribution to Piazzetta was confirmed by Bernard Aikema and Adelheid Gealt to the current owners.