1518
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Skeletons is a 1518 ink by Marco Dente, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a mix of living people and skeletal figures in a rocky space. Some are standing, others lie on the ground, and a few hold bones like objects. The background has jagged lines and a rough texture, while the people wear little to no clothing. A few look worried or sad, while one skeleton seems to be pointing or guiding. The artist used sharp lines and shading to create depth and drama. This style was common in Renaissance art to show emotion and meaning. Check out how this was made using engraving.
Marco Dente da Ravenna (1493–1527), usually just called Marco Dente, was an Italian engraver born in Ravenna in the latter part of the 15th Century.
See the richer artist page
