A Man in a White Domino Seen from Behind

This study of a man in a white domino seen from behind, drawn around 1700-1710, captures one of the most distinctive garments of Venetian carnival culture — the loose white cloak worn over ordinary dress to create anonymous festivity during the carnival period. Venice's carnival was one of the most celebrated festivals in Europe, drawing visitors from across the continent who joined the masked and cloaked Venetian population in weeks of officially sanctioned social license. Carlevarijs documented carnival costume with the same systematic care he brought to architecture and urban topography, recognizing that the living street life of Venice was as important to understanding the city as its built fabric.

The white domino creates a bright, distinctive form against the neutral ground. The loose garment conceals the figure's form, making the silhouette the primary visual element — an effect Carlevarijs captures with broad, flowing brushstrokes.