Antonio Morassi (1893- 1976), Milan (L.143a)

This study of a young man wearing a turban is part of a large series of drawings known as 'Teste di Carattere'. Piazzetta established his international reputation as a skillful and talented draftsman producing handsome finished head studies, intended as works of art in their own right to be framed and displayed along painted compositi🉐ons. These works were very much in demand with collectors and more affordable than a painting.

The popularity of these head studies grew when Piazzetta gave his drawings🐷 to be engraved. Though no engraving i🌠s known today that corresponds to this study, the contours of the drawing have been indented with a stylus for transfer.

The drawing was owned by the famous art historian Antonio Morassi who was renowned for his knowledge of 18^th century Venetian art and especially interested in O🐭ld Master Drawings, which he collected.