Rinaldo and the Magus of Ascalon (c. 1742–45): Artwork and History

Rinaldo and the Magus of Ascalon (c. 1742–45) is in the Art Institute of Chicago collection. The museum lists its creator attribution as Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770).

The work and its context

The Art Institute of Chicago describes the work:

The fourth and final large narrative canvas from Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s decorative suite stresses the moral of the story and takes place as Rinaldo rejoins the crusader army. The boat bringing the knight from Armida’s island has just deposited him on the coast of Palestine. The magician of Ascalon uses Rinaldo’s shield to conjure the heroic deeds of his ancestors, urging him to live up to their legacy. In contrast to earlier canvases in the sequence, the young knight appears focused on his mission. In his choice to return to battle, the figure of Rinaldo would have served as a positive example of civic duty for the family who commissioned these decorations.

Object facts

• Title: Rinaldo and the Magus of Ascalon
• Date: c. 1742–45
• Artist attribution: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770)
• Place of origin: Italy
• Medium: Oil on canvas
• Dimensions: 182.9 × 188 cm (72 × 74 in.); Framed: 194 × 190.2 × 7.6 cm (76 3/8 × 74 7/8 × 3 in.)
• Type: Painting
• Department: Painting and Sculpture of Europe
• Reference number: 1925.702

Collection credit

Bequest of James Deering

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