TIEPOLO, Giovanni Domenico
(b. 1727, Venezia, d. 1804, Venezia)

Minuet

1756
Oil on canvas
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona

This is an extremely interesting early piece which borrows its compositional layout from scenes painted by his father. The difference is that Giandomenico chose not to paint mythological or allegorical scenes. The minuet is being danced by people wearing traditional masks and having a good time. Its proper classification is therefore a genre painting. It was works like this that made such a deep impression on the young Goya.