Artwork
Three Soldiers and a Youth
Three Soldiers and a Youth is an ink print by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Three Soldiers and a Youth is an etching created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1785, exemplifying the Rococo style’s emphasis on elegance and refined detail.
Subject & Meaning
The etching portrays a poignant scene of three weary soldiers, armed with rifles and kneeling in a rugged landscape, accompanied by a determined youth standing behind them, holding a flag. The composition captures a tense, frozen moment, conveying narrative depth characteristic of Tiepolo’s theatrical approach.
Technique & Style
Executed with quick, sketchy lines, the etching conveys movement and emotion, reflecting Tiepolo’s mastery of capturing dynamic energy through his printmaking technique. The rough, expressive quality contrasts with the typical polish of Rococo, adding a sense of immediacy to the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in 1785 by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, a prominent Venetian artist of the Rococo period, this work is part of his prolific output that spanned Italy, Germany, and Spain. Tiepolo was contemporaneous with notable Venetian artists Canaletto and Francesco Guardi.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
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