Villa Foscari Vista di Fianco
1762
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1762
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Villa Foscari Vista di Fianco is a 1762 ink by Giovanni Francesco Costa, a Baroque work, depicting grand canal, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a grand Venetian villa from the side, with sharp lines and deep shadows. It’s an etching, a method where acid eats lines into metal plates to hold ink. Costa used drypoint too, scratching extra lines freehand for darker, fuzzy edges. The villa’s perfect symmetry and bold shadows feel stiff and dramatic. That’s the Baroque style: over-the-top details and strong light contrasts. For a softer look, try Rembrandt’s etchings in the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
