"Illustration for a Book: Battle by the Sea Coast" is a powerful drawing created by the celebrated Venetian master Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770). Executed entirely in black chalk, the composition exhibits the dynamic movement and dramatic lighting typical of Tiepolo’s preparatory work. This specific drawing includes faint horizontal and vertical centering lines, ruled in the same medium, which indicates the piece was intended as a study for transfer, scaling, or reproduction, likely as an etching or a published book plate.
The work captures a large-scale military engagement, providing insight into the artist’s method for organizing complex, multi-figure historical scenes. The foreground is dominated by the chaos of battle, depicting numerous soldiers locked in fierce hand-to-hand combat, utilizing swords and shields amidst the fray. The action sweeps toward the background, which details the titular sea coast where the engagement continues, complete with ships involved in the maritime conflict.
Tiepolo’s technical mastery is evident in the skillful articulation of musculature and drapery using quick, confident strokes of chalk. The drawing technique emphasizes chiaroscuro, granting the scene depth and tension characteristic of 18th-century narrative illustration. This drawing, classified as one of the master's studies, resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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