Gravelot's design is preparatory for an illustration to Canto V 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. 1 in volume 2 of the published work and is captioned “Ma perche la man destra avea fasciata, E gli benedicea con la mancina”. The scene shows the papal Nuncio blessing the Bolognese army and their assembled allies with his left hand.
Signed "Gravelot inven" in pen at lower right.
Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915-1986, former owner.
Kraemer, Ruth S. "Drawings by Gravelot for Alessandro Tassoni's mock-heroic poem La secchia rapita." Master drawings, XXVIII (Autumn 1990), p. 338-343, no. 10.