Tiepolo was internationally acclaimed for his illusionistic, grand-scale paintings. This bozetto,or sketch for a larger work, was made as a preparatory study for an elaborate ceiling painting in the Hall of the Royal Guard in the Royal Palace, Madrid. Diagonal composition, expressive movement, and radiant light are used to create space that opens expansively above the viewer. Although such sketches were made primarily to assist the artist in compositional arrangement, Tiepolo's rich palette, lively brushstroke, and silvery light make them animated and convincing works in their own right.

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