Allegorical Figure Representing Fortitude

Allegorical Figure Representing Fortitude by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a monumental 18th-century painting, executed around 1760. Originally created as a fresco, the medium involves paint applied directly to wet plaster, a technique utilized by Tiepolo for grand decorative schemes across European palaces. This specific work, however, underwent the complex and delicate process of being transferred to canvas, a conservation method used to preserve large-scale wall decorations.

The piece exemplifies the light, dynamic character of late Rococo art, a style mastered by Tiepolo. The artwork centers on an allegorical female figure who embodies Fortitude, one of the four cardinal virtues. Although often part of a wider series depicting classical virtues, this specific fragment highlights the artist's skill in rendering powerful women with dramatic movement and luminous, airy coloration. Tiepolo utilizes a high viewpoint and fluid draftsmanship, creating a sense of weightlessness characteristic of his famous ceiling decorations.

Dating to the period immediately preceding the artist’s final tenure in Madrid, the canvas reflects Tiepolo's mature style, characterized by sophisticated compositional planning and an emphasis on emotional expression. The artist’s masterful manipulation of light and shadow preserves the grand illusionistic quality achieved in the original fresco installation. This significant piece is a highlight of the European Paintings collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a work from this period, it is often treated as being in the public domain, allowing enthusiasts access to high-quality prints and reproductions for private and scholarly use.