Two magicians and two boys, from the Scherzi 1738 - 1755

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo made this etching called Two Magicians and Two Boys as part of his Scherzi di Fantasia series in Venice during the 1740s. Tiepolo was operating in a city whose economy was in decline, but which maintained a flourishing art market, fueled by wealthy tourists on the Grand Tour. This print depicts a gathering of figures including two bearded magicians, and two younger boys, surrounded by objects that suggest alchemy or the occult. The image creates meaning through visual codes that reflect the cultural fascination with the mysterious and exotic, which was particularly fashionable among Venetian elites. Tiepolo was an established painter, who, with these prints, was experimenting with a more individual style. His focus on the aesthetics of the image shows a self-conscious awareness of the art market, and an exploration of new and progressive styles. The social historian can analyze the way that the artist’s aesthetic choices reflect the tastes and values of his time and place, by looking into period documents, such as letters, diaries, and inventories. In this way, we can come to see how institutions shape artistic production.