The Entombment, plate fourteen from Stations of the Cross

Art Historical Context

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo's *The Entombment*, plate from the *Stations of Cross* series (c. 1748, published 1749), the poignant final moment of Christ's Passion, as his body is tenderly laid into the tomb. Created during the Venetian Rococo era, this etching reflects the Tiepolo family's mastery of religious narrative. Domenico, son of the famed Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, from his father's exuberant style while infusing his own refined sensitivity, making these prints a bridge between grand frescoes and intimate devotion. Etched on paper (22 × 18.3 cm), the work showcases etching's virtuosic technique: acid-etched lines on a metal plate create delicate textures, deep shadows, and luminous highlights, evoking emotional depth in a compact format. This medium was revolutionary for its time, allowing affordable dissemination of sacred scenes to homes and chapels, democratizing art beyond elite patronage. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings Department, this piece highlights the Tiepolos' enduring influence on 18th-century European printmaking. For visitors, it offers a meditative glimpse into Baroque-Rococo piety, where intricate linework conveys profound sorrow and quiet reverence.

About the Artist

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo · 1727–1804

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1727-1804) was a Venetian painter, printmaker, and draftsman whose career spanned the twilight of the Rococo era. Born on August 30, 1727, in Venice as the eldest son of the celebrated Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, he worked both in his father's shadow and as a significant independent artist who developed a distinctly earthbound and humanistic vision. Domenico's importance...