Illustration for a Book: Surrender of the Keys of a City to an Emperor by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a powerful example of the Venetian master’s preparatory graphic work. Classified as a drawing, this piece was executed entirely in black chalk, a medium Tiepolo frequently employed for detailed compositional studies designed for reproduction. The technical precision is evident in the faint horizontal and vertical centering lines ruled in the same black chalk, indicating that the composition was specifically developed for exact scale transfer, likely for an engraver creating prints or a larger painted commission.
The dramatic historical subject depicts a moment of high ceremony: the Surrender of the Keys of a City to an Emperor, a common theme representing military triumph and political subjugation in historical grand manner art. A large group of Men, including soldiers and officials, is organized around the central action where the defeated city’s representative offers the symbolic Keys to the victorious Emperor, who is surrounded by his entourage. The energy of the scene is conveyed through the quick, confident outlines and shadow-work characteristic of Tiepolo’s draftsmanship. The dynamic arrangement of figures and the inclusion of war Horses reinforce the momentous military significance of the victory.
Tiepolo, active throughout the 18th century, was renowned not only for his frescoes but also for his skill in producing drawings that served as models for numerous engravers, ensuring the widespread dissemination of his images through prints. This masterful preparatory drawing illustrates the exacting process required before publication. The work resides within the extensive collection of Italian drawings held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As this preparatory study of historical events often falls into the public domain, it continues to offer scholars and the public invaluable access to the creative mind of one of the great figures of the Venetian Rococo.
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