Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Sir John and Lady Witt (L.646a, on the mount), 
by descent to Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Witt,
by whom sold, New York, Sotheby's, 10 January 1995, lot 117

Oxford, Arts Club;
London, Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1937-8

Laid down on the Witt mount. Top right hand corner missing and made up. Tiny little losses at the top near the tree above two of the top brances, where there is also some slight yellow staining, visible in the catalogue image. A few other very slight stains not very visible in one or two places by one of the dog's feet and over the head of the second dog to the left. A further small loss to the left of the bottom ledge, visible in the catalogue illustration. Slight grey foxing at the bottom ledge. Overall the pen and ink and wash very fresh, stronger than the illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Animal drawings by Domenico are generally dated to the latter part of his career and associated with the decorations of the Tiepolo villa at Zianigo.  James Byam Shaw suggested that Tiepolo was originally inspired by the animal prints of Stefano della Bella and by those of Johann Elias Ridinger, the Augsburg artist whom he may have met when he travelled to Würzburg in 1750.¹ 

Several other compositions with hunting dogs, often attacking birds, have appeared in the salerooms, for example, New York, Sotheby's, 12 January 1994, lot 34 and New York, Christie's, 31 May 1990, lot 26, and there is also one in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.²  See also lot 124.

1. J. Byam Shaw, The Drawings of Domenico Tiepolo, London 1962, pp. 42-45
2. Ibid., p. 82, no. 50, reproduced