Illustration to Scene from the Liberation of Jerusalem (Gerusalemme Liberata) 1585 - 1590

Bernardo Castello’s Illustration to a Scene from the Liberation of Jerusalem was made in the late 16th or early 17th century with pen and brown ink on paper. The sepia wash gives the scene a feeling of antiquity. The image, full of tension, depicts a moment of authority and transition, using a strong horizontal composition. Castello uses line and form to draw our eyes. Notice the repetition of arched forms in the tents and the city behind the figures. These are echoed in the laurel wreath and the arm gestures of the men in the foreground. The architectural elements create a stage-like setting, emphasizing the performative nature of power. Castello seems to be influenced by Mannerism, particularly in the exaggerated gestures and elongated figures which convey drama and emotional intensity. Consider how the drawing captures a moment of conquest and transfer of power, but also reflects the aesthetic values and intellectual currents of its time.