1785
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Soldier Seated on a Tomb with Surrounding Figures is a 1785 ink by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, a Rococo painting work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a soldier sitting on a tomb, holding a spear. Around him, two other figures—one standing, one kneeling—seem to react to his presence. The scene looks dramatic, with rough lines and shadows giving everything a tense, uneven feel. The artist used quick, sketchy strokes to show movement and emotion, almost like a hurried drawing. The tomb and the soldier’s armor suggest this might be about war or memory. Next, check out how this was made using the technique: etching.
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
See the richer artist page
