Rinaldo, Astride Baiardo, Flies Off in Pursuit of Angelica c. 1795

This dynamic drawing, "Rinaldo, Astride Baiardo, Flies Off in Pursuit of Angelica," by French Rococo master Jean-Honoré Fragonard, is a study for a larger painting based on the epic poem "Orlando Furioso." The sketch captures the dramatic moment when Rinaldo, mounted on his winged steed Baiardo, pursues Angelica through the air. Fragonard’s masterful use of line and shading creates a sense of movement and energy, mirroring the tumultuous nature of the narrative.