Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

From the album Tomo terzo de caricature;
probably Count Bernardino Algarotti Corniani;
probably Breadalbane Family;
Langton House, Dun, Berwickshire;
sale, Edinburgh, Dowells, 25 March 1925, lot 1004 (bought by J. Grant, bookseller, Edinburgh);
Arthur Kay, Edinburgh;
sale, London, Christie's, 9 April 1943, lot 248b (bought by Arcade Gallery);
Mrs Becker, New York;
sale, New York, Christie's, 10 January 1990, lot 84

Hinged at the top. Paper has discoloured slightly. Top left corner a small hole. Paper has wrinkled around the edges, particularly left and right margin. A light grey stain towards the left margin. Overall quite good condition.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This caricature has been identified by Knox as no. 74 of  the 'Tomo terzo de caricature', which included 107 caricatures.  The drawings were almost all by Giambattista and Knox believes they were mostly works from 1754-62. The album seems to have stayed in the possession of Giandomenico Tiepolo and often served him as inspiration.  Knox has rightly suggested, when studying the present sheet for a private publication, that it has been used by Giandomenico for an elaborate drawing of a Venetian street scene with a Picture Show ('Cantimbanco'), in which we clearly see the same man wearing a tricorn in a group of onlookers to the left of the composition. The drawing by Giandomenico is in the Thaw Collection, The Pierpont Morgan Library, New York.¹

1.  A.M. Gealt and G. Knox, Giandomenico Tiepolo: scene di vita quotidiana a Venezia e nella terraferma, Venice 2005, p. 121, no. 29, reproduced p. 122, fig. 29