Giovanni Battista de' Cavalieri
1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Untitled is a 1550 by Giovanni Battista de' Cavalieri, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows a crowd of robed figures in a rough outdoor setting. Some stand tall, others kneel or lean in, their faces lined with age. One man in the center raises his arm, while another holds a scroll. The scene looks busy but calm, with no bright colors—just deep shadows and simple lines. The artist used shading to make the figures stand out against the background. Notice how the light seems to hit only certain parts, like the man’s raised arm or the scroll. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique works in other art.
The print on paper depicts Moses presenting the new Tables of the Law to the people, based on a composition by Raphael.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Giovanni Battista de' Cavalieri (1526–1597), an Italian engraver, was born at Villa Lagarina and died at Rome.
See the richer artist page
