One of the Hours Holding the Bridle of a Horse of the Sun, and Other Figures c. 1750 - 1753

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo rendered this dynamic drawing with pen and brown wash, presenting a flurry of figures and forms that merge classical mythology with baroque dynamism. The composition feels both intentional and spontaneous, a study in controlled chaos. Notice how Tiepolo's fluid lines and contrasting washes create a sense of movement. The human figures and the horse seem to tumble across the page, their forms loosely defined yet full of energy. This deliberate lack of precision invites us to fill in the gaps, engaging our imagination in the act of perception. The drawing challenges fixed meanings through its fragmented and ethereal quality. Rather than a clear narrative, we see a constellation of forms and gestures, prompting a meditation on the ephemeral nature of time and the power of suggestion in art. Tiepolo masterfully employs a semiotic system of signs, where each stroke and shadow contributes to a larger, ambiguous whole. This imbues the work with a timeless quality.