About the Artist

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696 Venice-1770 Madrid) was a pupil of Gregorio Lazzarini, By 1717 he had already become an independent painter in Venice, where he received important commissions for decorating churches and the palaces of the aristocracy. From 1750-1753 he worked with his sons, Givanni Domenico and Lorenzo, on the interior decorations of the Wurzburg Residence, and in 1757 on the Villa Valmrana near Vicenza. He was president of the art academy in Venice from 1756 to 1758. Tiepolo's fame spread throughout all of Europe, bringing him commissions from the French, English and Russian courts. From 1762 on he was active in the service of the Spanish court and painted, again along with his sons, frescoes for the Palacio Real in Madrid. Tiepolo's art marks the high point of 18th century Italian painting. Other works by the artist include The Triumph of Zephyr and Flora, 1734/35, Ca'Rezzonico, Venice; Zeus and Danae, c. 1736, University Museum, Stockholm; and The Death of Hyacinth, c. 1752, Museo Thyssen - Bornemisza, Madrid.