Giuseppe Maria Mitelli

Overall in very good condition. A few faint brown stains in the upper half of the sheet, barely visible. Medium remains very fresh.
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.

In this drawing Mitelli depicts a man lifting a small comical character, dressed in friar's clothing, up to a large barrel of wine.  The small friar could derive from the famous Punchinello, a fictional character originating from Naples who became a popular comical choice for artists, easily identifiable by his exaggerated features.  The Neapolitan character of Pulcinella was first brought to life on stage by Silvio Fiorillo at the begining of the 17th century.  The character of Punchinello became famous quite early on in the Commedia dell'Arte, although he begins to be familiar all over Italy only after the middle of the 18th century.
Giuseppe Maria Mitelli was the son of the painter Agostino Mitelli and, although he too was a painter, he was more renowned as an engraver.  He was a keen observer of human behavior and daily life on the streets of Bologna and he produced a famous series of engravings entitled Le Ventiquattr'hore dell'humana felicità, inspired by Annibale Carracci's Diverse Figure.