Head of a Philosopher

Head of a Philosopher Work by a Venetian painter from the 19th century. Oil on canvas, 48.5 x 60 cm (h) Half-length portrait of a mature man, turned three-quarters to the left, with a long beard and his head covered by a cap. He wears oriental garments: a white shirt and a dark red cloak, with the edges closed by a belt on the chest embellished with a diadem with a mask. The intensity of the gaze with lively and sharp eyes stands out in the face furrowed by the marks of age. It appears clear, even in the vagueness of a fantasy portrait, that it is in any case the face of a wise man, probably a philosopher. The details of the face are very precise, the beard excellently finished and the gaze proud. The canvas, of truly remarkable quality, is closely connected to the production of character and fantasy heads that developed in Venice during the eighteenth century and reached its peak in the works of Gian Battista Tiepolo.