Watteau, Antoine (1684-1721) - Mezzetin 1717-20

Mezzetin, a stock comic character of the Italian commedia dell’arte, became an established archetype on the Paris stage, but was an innovative subject for painting in Watteau’s lifetime. Here Mezzetin inhabits the overgrown gardens beloved by Watteau. His costume typically included a striped jacket and knee breeches, a floppy hat, a ruff, and a short cape; his personality was by turns interfering, devious, and lovelorn, as indicated by the distant female statue who turns her back to him. Watteau’s delicate touch, especially evident in the figure’s hands and clothing, is exceptionally well preserved in this painting.

This download consists of 1 image, in jpeg format, that is 600dpi and 4416 pixels wide by 5800 pixels tall.

This picture also features in our Watteau 70-image collection.

The picture is out of copyright and in the public domain, so you are free to use it in whatever way you'd like, including commercial use.

Read more about Jean-Antoine Watteau.