The Siege of Tortona, or The Thirst of the People of Tortona (La Costanza dei tortonesi)

1866-1867

Andrea Gastaldi

Associated Names
Andrea Gastaldi

Artist, Italian, 1826 - 1889

The image depicts several figures, with most of their bodies shown. One person on the far right is standing and slightly bent forward, barefoot, and blindfolded, holding what appears to be a helmet in their right hand and a spade in their left. Another individual reaching towards this helmet is standing, bending forward with an intense expression, their head covered with a hood. To the left, a person with a fist raised, grimacing and also featuring a hood, stands slightly behind the first two. Below them, there is a kneeling figure, their face obscured by a hood, appearing to drink from cupped hands. In the foreground, another figure lies prone, their face partially turned down towards the ground. The scene is set against a plain background, emphasizing the figures in the foreground without any discernible environmental details. The image is monochrome and appears to be a sketch with visible pencil lines and shading.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    charcoal, black crayon, and white chalk on dark cream, machine-made wove paper, laid down on board

  • Credit Line

    Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 193 × 173 cm (76 × 68 1/8 in.) (approximate dimensions; object framed)

  • Accession Number

    2018.176.1


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Private collection, Italy; (Lullo-Pampoulides, London); purchased 2018 by NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2018

  • The Insatiable Desire: Collecting Paintings, Sculptures, and Drawings. Lullo-Pampoulides, London, 2018, no. 10 (color).

Bibliography

2019

  • Bober, Jonathan. "Andrea Gastaldi, The Siege of Tortona." National Gallery of Art Bulletin No. 60 (Spring 2019): 22-23 (color).


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