The Capture of Carthage 1725 - 1729

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created "The Capture of Carthage" using oil on canvas. At first glance, the dynamic composition and contrasting elements evoke a scene of chaos and triumph. The foreground is littered with fallen figures, creating a stage for the victorious Roman soldier atop his horse, flag in hand. Tiepolo’s use of diagonal lines guides our eyes from the fallen figures to the commanding soldier, constructing a narrative of conflict and conquest. The interplay of light and shadow accentuates the dramatic tension, typical of the Baroque era. But it is the formal construction of the painting that most interests me. The structural semiotics of power and control, seen in the Roman soldier’s posture and elevated position, stands in stark contrast to the disorder and loss depicted below. This painting, in its depiction of an event from the Punic Wars, offers a chance for ongoing interpretation of the structures of dominance and submission that underpin historical narratives.