Six Heads, a Turk in Front

Art Historical Context

In the late 18th century, Italian artist Gaetano Gandolfi (1734–1802), a master of the Bolognese Rococo tradition, created *Six Heads, a Turk in Front*, an exquisite etching from the 1770s–1780s. Working in Bologna, Gandolfi was renowned for his lively figure studies and prints that captured human expression with fluid grace, bridging Rococo elegance and emerging Neoclassical restraint. This small-scale work, measuring just 10.5 × 15.4 cm on the plate, exemplifies his skill in rendering diverse faces with intricate detail. The composition features six overlapping heads, with a striking Turk prominently in the foreground—likely evoking the era's fascination with Ottoman exoticism, or "turquerie," popular in European art amid diplomatic and cultural exchanges. Etching on laid paper allowed Gandolfi to achieve delicate, velvety lines and tonal depth through acid-bitten copper plates, a technique prized for its precision in printmaking. This medium made such intimate studies accessible beyond oil paintings, influencing collectors and fellow artists. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection (CG-E department, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund), this print invites visitors to appreciate Gandolfi's playful yet observant eye for character, offering a window into 18th-century portraiture's blend of whimsy and realism.

About the Artist

Gaetano Gandolfi · 1734–1802

Gaetano Gandolfi (1734–1802) was an Italian painter and draughtsman who, together with his older brother Ubaldo Gandolfi, represented the finest flowering of the Bolognese school during the eighteenth century. Born in San Matteo della Decima, he trained in Bologna under Felice Torelli and Ercole Lelli before entering the Accademia Clementina, the leading artistic institution in the city, where he ...