Tiepolo's Pulcinella

Pulcinella Swing, ca. 1793

Pulcinella, often called Punch or Punchinello in English, is a classical character that originated in the Commedia dell'arte (Italian Comedy), a form of improvisational theatre of the 17th century. He is the freak...pitiable, helpless, and oftentimes disfigured. He is often portrayed as a drunk, and a bit vulgar. He usually has a hump, a strong limp, or some other obvious physical deformity. In some portrayals he cannot speak, and expresses himself in squeaks or other strange sounds. His personality can be foolish or tricky and shrewd. In fact, the popular phrase "pleased as punch" originates with this character. (It’s the great satisfaction he finds in his mischievous deeds that led to the usage of the idiom.) He is always dressed in all white, baggy clothes and a large cone shaped hat. His mask features a very large nose, and is most often black in color.

Pulcinella innamorato (Pulcinella in Love), ca. 1797

Pulcinella and tumblers, ca. 1793

Domenico Tiepolo completed some 104 drawings illustrating the life of Pulcinella, from his parentage, birth, and childhood, to his diversions and adventures in near and distant lands, to his illness, death, and the apparition of his ghost. He first trained with his famous father, also an artist, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. He assisted in many of his fathers famous works such as the Würzburg frescoes. However, following his fathers death in 1770, he took a 15 year hiatus after which he returned with what has been viewed as a completely different style of painting - namely, the Pulcinella works.

Punchinellos Hunting Waterfowl, ca. 1800

Pulcinella on the trapeze, ca. 1800

Pulcinella Learns to Walk, ca. 1790

Punchinello with the Ostriches, ca. 1800

Punchinello Visits a Circus, ca. 1790

Homage to Pulcinella crowned, ca. 1800

I was lucky enough to stumble across a book by author Adelheid M. Gealt with a complete collection of the 104 pen-and-brown-ink Pulcinella drawings by Tiepolo. 77 are shown in color, and the remaining 27 are in black-and-white (being the locations of these are unknown). Descriptive text appears opposite each drawing, the author providing a brief, but informative interpretation of each scene.

I first became interested in Pulcinella when I received a commission to paint several tapestry murals depicting the whimsical character. I hadn't previously heard of Pulcinella nor the Commedia dell'arte, so I had lots of research to do before I could begin. Of course it was an added bonus that I discovered the son of one of my favorite artists, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, had done a Pulcinella pictorial biography of sorts.

I found that this is a very popular, and well known character, which reminds me how uncultured I am sometimes. There is even a Pulcinella Museum located in the Campania region of Italy (the web site features a photo gallery and virtual tour). Mask collectors and enthusiasts boast that no self respecting collector would be without a Pulcinella mask, and will even spend up to hundreds of dollars without batting an eyelash for a true Venetian mask.

Pulcinella Tapestry for Il Vescovino Restaurant

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo obviously recognized this whimsical Italian character as something special, a timeless persona which still delights and amuses us.