Tiepolo’s Tribute to Punchinelli and Pasta

Christie's
Jan 24, 2013 7:47PM
In Giovanni Battista Tiepolo's lively work, Punchinelli preparing a meal of gnocchi and parmesan cheese, is a reference to the regional Italian festival, Friday of Carnival. Traditionally, young boys from the poor district of San Zeno dressed in costume, gathered in front of the Palazzo del Podestà and invited the mayor to the town square for wine and pasta. This ritual kicked off a fiesta for the town that lasted until dawn and inspired “Giambattista,” as he was known, to create a playful Punchinelli series.
Christie's