Widely regarded as Venice’s foremost artist in the 18th century, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo remains an icon whose decorative and imaginative style had a profound impact on the trajectory of Italian Art. Today, large-scale pieces by the artist are rare on the international market, as much of his work was carried out in frescoes and altarpieces that survive in situ or in museum collections. In this video, discover Tiepolo’s monumental masterpiece The Madonna of the Rosary with Angels, the last major altarpiece by the artist in private hands. With familiar theatrical flair, Tiepolo evokes the grandiosity of his Venetian predecessors — in particular Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese — within his own modern expression, transforming painted divine figures into three dimensions. Signed and dated 1735, this altarpiece will be offered as a highlight of Sotheby’s Master Paintings Evening Sale. (29 January | New York)