Illustration for a Book: Battle by the Sea Coast 1696 - 1770

This drawing, titled “Battle by the Sea Coast”, is an illustration by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo for a book published between 1696 and 1770. The sketch, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, depicts a dynamic battle scene with soldiers clashing on a seashore, highlighted by the dramatically posed figure of a soldier raising his sword in the foreground. The drawing demonstrates Tiepolo’s skill in capturing movement and emotion through swift and expressive lines, typical of his work which often depicted grand theatrical scenes and mythological subjects. The sketch’s small dimensions (3 x 6-1/16 in.) underscore its function as a preparatory study for a larger work. The dynamic composition and dramatic lighting are characteristic of Tiepolo’s style and highlight the artist's mastery of dramatic composition and expressive line.