Rinaldo Persuaded by Ubaldo and Guelfo to Abandon Armida c. mid to late 18th century

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo rendered this drawing of "Rinaldo Persuaded by Ubaldo and Guelfo to Abandon Armida" using pen and brown ink wash over graphite. The eye is immediately drawn to the centralized figures. Tiepolo’s structured composition utilizes diagonal lines and layered forms to convey the narrative's emotional intensity. Notice how Rinaldo is physically supported by Ubaldo and Guelfo. This echoes a theme of external forces shaping individual destiny, a prevalent concept during the Enlightenment when reason and moral duty were debated. Tiepolo's dynamic use of line and wash, combined with the careful arrangement of figures, creates a sense of instability. It challenges the viewer to consider the tension between love and duty, desire and reason. This tension highlights the transient nature of human emotion and moral choices.