Armida Encounters The Sleeping Rinaldo 1742

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created this painting, Armida Encounters the Sleeping Rinaldo, with oil paints, a material that allows for layering and blending of colors, creating luminosity. Tiepolo was a master of the fresco tradition, where paint is applied to wet plaster. Although this is an oil painting, the techniques he developed as a fresco painter are visible in the sweeping, energetic brushwork and bright, airy palette. The scale and composition of the figures demonstrate his mastery of visual storytelling. This piece uses expensive pigments, like the vibrant blues and reds, reflecting the wealth of his patrons and the commercial power of Venice at the time. The layers of meaning in this painting speak to the refined tastes of his aristocratic audience and his deep understanding of the relationship between art and social status. Tiepolo’s skill, as well as the cost of materials, elevated painting to a high status.