The artwork, titled “The Institution of the Rosary,” was created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo between 1737 and 1739. It is a fresco, measuring 450 x 1200 cm, and falls under the Rococo art movement. The genre of this piece is religious painting with elements of trompe-l’œil.
The artwork portrays a vibrant and dynamic religious scene, characterized by its Baroque complexity and Rococo elegance. The composition is populated with figures that occupy a grand architectural space, implying a significant ecclesiastical or heavenly event. At the top elevation, celestial beings and angels are depicted amid soft clouds, creating a divine atmosphere. Below, a congregation of fervent believers, including clergy, is actively engaged in the scene, their expressions and gestures suggesting devotion and reverence. The use of dramatic light and shadow, coupled with detailed human expressions, heightens the emotional impact. Trompe-l’œil techniques are employed to blend the architectural elements seamlessly into the fresco, enhancing the illusion of depth and realism. The overall effect is an intricate interplay of the heavenly and the terrestrial, bound together in a strikingly harmonious visual narration.
