An Eagle with Wings Spread

"An Eagle with Wings Spread," created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770), is a powerful example of 18th-century Venetian draftsmanship. This classification of artwork is a drawing, executed primarily in charcoal, utilizing the dramatic contrast provided by heightening with white chalk. The drawing technique, applied to a toned ground, allows Tiepolo to rapidly define volume and texture, capturing the immediate sense of weight and motion of the subject. The focus is entirely on the majestic bird, captured mid-posture with its large wings fully extended, emphasizing the creature's formidable presence.

Tiepolo specialized in large-scale fresco cycles, and detailed studies of anatomical forms and significant subjects, such as eagles, were crucial preparatory steps. The energetic handling of the charcoal lends the image a dynamism suitable for a creature symbolizing power, dominion, and often associated in classical iconography with Jupiter. The meticulous detail in the feathers, combined with the strong lines defining the musculature, illustrates Tiepolo's mastery of disegno that underpinned his monumental painted output, including his work in ceiling decoration and altarpieces.

This masterful study resides as a significant piece in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing the pinnacle of European drawing during the Rococo era. The sheer quality of the draftsmanship ensures its importance for art historians examining the artist’s process. Since the artwork is now categorized within the public domain due to its age, high-quality reference reproductions and fine art prints are widely accessible for further scholarly examination and appreciation.