The artwork titled “Susanna and the Elders,” created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo between 1722 and 1723, is fashioned using oil on canvas. This piece, belonging to the Rococo art movement, finds its home at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, United States. Measuring 56 by 43 centimeters, this mythological painting captures a dramatic biblical scene with masterful expressive detail characteristic of Rococo aesthetics.
The artwork vividly portrays the tense and dramatic moment from the biblical story of Susanna, who is confronted by two elders as she bathes. Susanna, depicted seated at the center, appears distressed as the two male figures encircle her. Tiepolo’s skillful use of light and shadow emphasizes the emotional and physical tension in the scene. Rich hues and fluid brushwork typical of Tiepolo’s style bring dynamism and vibrancy to the composition. The background reveals a glimpse of nature, enhanced by Tiepolo’s adeptness in rendering textures and forms, which enhances the overall theatricality of the narrative.
