The Tempest (Italian La Tempesta) is an oil on canvas painting by Giorgione. Painted around 1508, it measures 82 by 73 cm (32 by 28.5 inches).

The Tempest is one of the most enigmatic works in the history of art. It depicts an arcadian landscape outside a city, with a river, trees and ruins. The darkly clouded sky is lit by a flash of lightning, announcing an imminent storm. A woman, sitting on the right, is breastfeeding a baby. She is nude except for a white sheet covering her shoulders. The color white is associated with purity and innocence. From her round belly, her full breasts and the fact that she is lactating a child, one could conclude that she symbolizes fertility. According to some commentators, however, she represents charity. The association with the virgin Mary is obvious.

A man, possibly a soldier, holding a long staff or pike is standing in contrapposto on the left. He is smiling and glances to the right, but does not appear to be looking at the woman. Art historians have identified the man alternatively as a soldier, a shepherd, a gipsy or a member of a club of unmarried men. X-rays of the painting have revealed that in the place of the man, Giorgione originally painted another female nude. To some, he represents steadfastness. They point to the pillars behind him: pillars often symbolize force and steadfastness. However, the pillars are broken — a classic symbol of death.

One may also note the stork on the rooftop on the right. Storks sometimes represent the love of parents for their children.

Everything seems to anticipate the storm. The colors are subdued, the lighting is soft. Greens and blues dominate. The landscape is not a mere backdrop: Giorgione painted a landscape with figures rather than the other way around. The painting has a wonderful, silent atmosphere which continues to fascinate modern viewers.

Until now, nobody has come up with a plausible reading of the painting. To some it represents the flight to Egypt, to others, a scene from classical mythology (Paris and Oenone) or from an ancient Greek pastoral novel. Others still have proposed an allegorical reading or have concluded that Giorgione had no particular subject in mind.