Exegi Monumentum (Art Inscribing Minerva's Shield)
1775
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1775
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Exegi Monumentum (Art Inscribing Minerva's Shield) is a 1775 ink by Giovanni David, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows two figures in a dramatic pose. One person, dressed in flowing robes, stands on a pedestal holding a scroll and a spear. The other, kneeling, leans forward as if offering something. Behind them, a wall with architectural details and a window frames the scene. The lines are sharp and detailed, with lots of cross-hatching for texture. The text at the bottom reads *Exegi monumentum aere perenius*, which means "I have raised a monument more lasting than bronze." This suggests the scene might be about creating something that lasts. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how this print was made.
