Illustration for a Book: Scene of Men Disposing of Corpse in a Garden

The work titled Illustration for a Book: Scene of Men Disposing of Corpse in a Garden, created by the Venetian master Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770), is an evocative drawing dating from the artist’s prolific career. Executed primarily in black chalk, the piece demonstrates Tiepolo's sophisticated draughtsmanship and his ability to convey narrative urgency through economic line work. A notable technical detail is the presence of faint horizontal and vertical centering lines, also ruled in black chalk, suggesting that the image was intended for transfer, likely as an engraving or etching to accompany a printed text.

This highly dramatic scene features several human figures engaged in the clandestine disposal of a corpse within an enclosed garden setting. While the specific literary source for the illustration remains unidentified, the grim subject matter highlights the darker narrative interests often found in 18th-century Venetian art and book illustration. The action is focused and intense, capturing the furtive efforts of the figures as they move the body. Tiepolo's handling of deep shadow and minimal illumination emphasizes the secrecy and urgency required for the act of corpse disposal.

This powerful drawing is classified among Tiepolo’s significant graphic works and is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a major historical work now in the public domain, the image is often referenced by scholars studying 18th-century illustration. High-quality digital reproductions are frequently sought out for study, and contemporary prints based on the original are widely available, allowing researchers and enthusiasts to appreciate the masterful skill inherent in Tiepolo’s preparatory drawings.