Artwork
The Cattle Vendor

The Cattle Vendor is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1937.574
- Credit line
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
About this work
Overview
The Cattle Vendor is a drawing created by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo around 1794. It is a representative work of the Venetian artistic tradition, to which Tiepolo's family made significant contributions.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a scene of livestock trading, with a group of people herding cows down a dirt path. The presence of deer hanging from trees in the background suggests a market or hunting context, reflecting a common genre subject in late 18th-century Venetian art.
Technique & Style
The sketch is characterized by loose, quick strokes and a predominantly brown color palette. The use of chiaroscuro creates depth, with light and shadow defining the forms of the figures and animals. The paper appears aged, with a yellowed edge and scattered small dots.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (August 30, 1727 – March 3, 1804) was an Italian painter and printmaker in etching. He was the son of artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and elder brother of Lorenzo Baldissera Tiepolo.


















