Maecenas Presenting the Liberal Arts to Emperor Augustus 1743

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo's "Maecenas Presenting the Liberal Arts to Emperor Augustus" (1743) is a dynamic, illustrative Rococo masterpiece. The scene portrays the Roman patron Maecenas presenting the arts to the emperor, embodied by figures representing various disciplines including painting, music, poetry and sculpture, all set against a grand architectural backdrop. The work emphasizes the role of the arts in shaping the Roman Empire and provides a glimpse into the lavish and intellectual world of 18th-century Europe. It currently resides in the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.