1791
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Voltaire is a 1791 ink by Pierre-Michel Alix, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a round portrait of an older man with curly white hair and a serious expression. He’s wearing a dark coat with a fur collar and a white cravat at his neck. The background is plain and dark, keeping all focus on his face. The artist used a mix of fine lines and shading to show texture, especially in his hair and coat. The paper looks aged, with a slight yellow tint around the edges. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Pierre-Michel Alix (1762 – 27 December 1817) was a French engraver. He studied under Jacques-Philippe Le Bas and was best known for his portraits of notable figures during the French Revolution and First French Empire.…
See the richer artist page
