Note on Art

Note on Art

A note from LeRoy Neiman linking Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo's Punchinellos Outside a Circus (c. late 18th to early 19th century) with childhood memory.

This note from LeRoy Neiman links a drawing of Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (not to be confused with Domenico Tiepolo, Giovanni’s father) and Neiman’s childhood. The drawing, Punchinellos Outside a Circus, depicts a cluster of bowed punchinellos outside a slatted building, backs to the viewer. In the background, outside the structure, a larger standing mob is attempting to peak through the panels. Neiman compares this scene to watching the Saint Paul Saints play for free through knotholes in through the bleachers as a kid. As anachronistic as this comparison might seem, it discloses the artist’s interests longstanding interest in sports, art, theatrics, and spectatorship. At the bottom of the note he as provided a more extended commentary on the notion of spectator. In addition, Neiman most likley saw Tiepolo's drawing at the Metropolitian Museum of Art, where the piece is collected, given the museum's proximity to his home.

LeRoy Neiman

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

c. 1990-2011

LeRoy Neiman

Property of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation; please consult the organization's archivist for further details.

Notes, LN_Notes_1673_01, LN_Notes_1673_02, LN_Notes_1677, LN_Notes_1658, LN_Notes_1674, LN_Notes_1655, LN_Notes_2250, LN_Notes_1995, LN_Notes_923_01, LN_Notes_923_02, LN_Notes_919_01, LN_Notes_919_02, LN_Notes_1871_01, LN_Notes_1871_02, LN_Notes_1702, LN_Notes_1703, LN_Notes_2436_01, LN_Notes_2436_02, LN_Notes_1903_01, LN_Notes_1903_02

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English

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LN_Notes_1667

New York (N.Y.) New York

SP sport
The Punchinello drawing by Domenico Tiepolo of “Punchinello outside the circus” with people peeking through knot-holes in a fence reminds me of when we were kids in St. Paul and used to sit in the bleachers free at St. Paul Saints baseball games as members of the Saint Paul Saints Knot-hole gang at Lexington Park LEX and University. Keyswell drilling sign – Prom Ballroom
The spectators at todays athletic events are identical and indistinguishable members of a homogenous society. no matter how they present themselves attire themselves, or behave in ridiculous ways.

Felt-tipped pen and ballpoint pen on paper.