Sea Battle

About this artwork

Pietro da Cortona (1596–1669), a leading figure of the Italian Baroque, masterfully captured dynamic energy in his drawing *Sea Battle*. This intimate preparatory sketch, executed in brush and brown wash on modest 4 3/4 x 7 1/16-inch (12.1 x 18 cm) sheet, exemplifies the artist's skill in rendering dramatic scenes through fluid lines and tonal washes. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Drawings and Prints (acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1964), it showcases Cortona's versatility beyond his famed grand frescoes in Rome, such as those in the Barberini Palace. The composition bursts with action, featuring clashing warriors, shields, and men locked in fierce naval combat—a popular Baroque motif evoking heroism and turmoil. Brown wash, a technique using diluted ink, allowed Cortona to model forms with subtle gradations of light and shadow, creating depth and movement on a small scale. Such drawings often served as studies for larger paintings or frescoes, highlighting the preparatory rigor behind Baroque spectacle. This work offers a window into 17th-century artistic practice, where rapid washes conveyed the chaos of battle with emotional intensity. For visitors, it's a reminder of how Baroque masters like Cortona transformed sketches into visions of grandeur, blending technical prowess with vivid storytelling.