Alexander and Bucephalus 1757 - 1760

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo captured ‘Alexander and Bucephalus’ with oil on canvas. The painting presents a classical scene teeming with figures, dominated by a pale horse. Observe how Tiepolo orchestrates the composition, using the architectural backdrop of columns to frame the unfolding drama. The contrast between the cool tones of the horse and sky, against the warmer hues of the figures creates a dynamic interplay. Light falls unevenly across the scene, heightening the sense of movement and theatricality. Tiepolo, working within the Rococo style, disrupts the more rigid structures of earlier art through asymmetry, dynamic brushwork, and emotional intensity. This reflects the Enlightenment-era shift toward valuing individual expression. Tiepolo destabilizes fixed perspectives and invites viewers into a world of spectacle and psychological complexity. Note how the spirited brushstrokes and carefully arranged composition invites ongoing interpretation, defying any singular reading.