Illustratie bij Canto XII van Tasso's 'Gerusalemme Liberata' 1565 - 1630

Curator: This etching by Antonio Tempesta, dating somewhere between 1565 and 1630, depicts a scene from Tasso's "Gerusalemme Liberata," specifically illustrating Canto XII. What strikes you most when you first see it? Editor: Honestly, it feels like a fever dream transcribed onto paper. The sheer density of figures, the swirling action… there's a restless energy to it. Almost overwhelming. Curator: It is rather packed, isn’t it? Tempesta, known for his battle scenes and historical narratives, certainly crams a lot into this composition. Technically, it’s a marvel. Look at the way he uses line variation to suggest depth, guiding our eye from the foreground figures to the distant siege. Editor: The foreground is definitely where the drama is. All this grieving over a fallen warrior… who are these characters? Is that their war horse looking forlorn in the corner? I love how expressive the horse is - its face seems genuinely sad! Curator: The poem tells the story of the First Crusade, so you're witnessing a scene of profound mourning amidst the ongoing conflict. That's Tancredi and his slain love Clorinda. Tempesta captured their intense love, loss and sacrifice here using sharp and expressive contour lines and dramatic contrasts. It creates a very palpable atmosphere of devastation, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Absolutely devastating. There is such pathos in these kneeling, almost prostrating men - that speaks to their great vulnerability as a community and also the sense of heroism surrounding this fallen soldier. But does the chaotic composition somehow detract from the individual emotional impact of the characters here? Curator: Perhaps. It definitely makes the viewer work harder to engage with the key elements in this story of tragic romance in such a complex historical scene. But the detail also reinforces the poem's broader exploration of war's devastating reach. Editor: Ultimately, Tempesta gives you the sweep of a history painting combined with these deeply affecting figures. An ambitious artistic exploration of literature, love, and war all together. I’d say it all melds together really beautifully! Curator: A moving example of history remembered. It makes you think doesn’t it?