Soldier in front of ‘General’ Holding up a Decapitated Head on a Staff 1696 - 1770

"Soldier in front of ‘General’ Holding up a Decapitated Head on a Staff" is an etching by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, an Italian painter and draftsman. The drawing depicts a soldier holding a decapitated head on a staff in front of a "general," likely representing a scene of military conquest. The artwork captures the raw and unsettling reality of battle. Tiepolo is known for his dramatic and often theatrical depictions of scenes from history and mythology. This etching is a good example of his detailed and powerful draftsmanship. The drawing is characteristic of Tiepolo’s style, which emphasized bold outlines and strong contrasts of light and shadow, and his use of a dynamic composition. This artwork is a powerful and evocative image that reminds us of the horrors of war.