An Old Man Standing
1725
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1725
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
An Old Man Standing is a 1725 by Antonio Maria I Zanetti, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting shows an old man standing, dressed in simple clothes. He looks gentle and calm. The old man's face is the focus of the painting, with soft light on it. This painting is interesting because it shows the artist's skill in drawing people. The artist likely practiced drawing faces and bodies to get so good. To learn more, look up the technique: chiaroscuro.
A native of Venice, artist, and collector, Zanetti also acted as an agent, arranging sales and commissions since he knew both the leading artists and the most influential patrons. In 1720, while visiting England, Zanetti acquired a group of 130 drawings executed by Parmigianino, many of which were initially done as models for chiaroscuro woodcuts. Zanetti made his own chiaroscuros after these sheets, helping to revive the medium in the 18th century. Since Zanetti was primarily a copyist, his originality is found not so much in his compositions as in his technique. Previously, chiaroscuro…
Read the full account in the museum source.
Antonio Maria I Zanetti (1680–1757) was an Italian artist.
See the richer artist page
