Drawing for Canto IX of Alessandro Tassoni's "Secchia rapita"

Gravelot's design is preparatory for an illustration to Canto IX of an edition of Alessandro Tassoni's "Secchia rapita" (“The Stolen Bucket”), published in Paris by Lorenzo Prault and Pietro Durand in 1766. Tassoni's mock-heroic poem, originally published in Paris in 1622, blends the construct of an epic with an absurd premise: a 14th century war between Modena and Bologna was actually caused by the Modenese stealing a bucket from Bologna. The corresponding plate appears facing p. 103 in volume 2 of the published work and is captioned “Rispose, buona notte, e spense il lume”. This scene shows the mounted Count Culagna drawing his sword in anger against the dwarf who has recounted his tale.