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

Andrea Gastaldi

National Gallery of Art

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.