Ontwerp voor een titelblad met Pax en Justitia

The detailed drawing Ontwerp voor een titelblad met Pax en Justitia by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo is a refined study for a book frontispiece, likely intended for an important printed volume. Executed between 1706 and 1732, the work utilizes ink and chalk on paper, showcasing the Venetian master’s sophisticated draughtsmanship even in his early career. The composition centers on a classical allegory, featuring the figures of Pax (Peace) and Justitia (Justice), traditionally symbolizing stability, good governance, or legal authority.

As a preliminary disegno, the piece demonstrates Tiepolo’s fluid technique in blending chalk highlighting with crisp ink lines to define the figures and the architectural framework of the title page border. The dynamic arrangement and the use of classical motifs align this drawing firmly within the late Baroque period of Venetian art. Drawings of this type were essential steps in the creation of prints, allowing the artist to refine the composition and ensure legibility before transferring the design to an etched or engraved plate. This preparatory method is characteristic of the highly organized workshop practice Tiepolo maintained throughout his prolific career.

This significant drawing is held in the renowned Rijksmuseum collection, contributing to the institution’s comprehensive holdings of European old master drawings. Its original function as a template for prints means that it was designed to be widely reproduced. As a foundational piece of eighteenth-century draughtsmanship, the work is often studied by historians, and its image is frequently made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring that high-quality reproductions of Tiepolo’s allegorical studies can be accessed globally.