1555
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Moses Surrounded by the Patriarchs is a 1555 ink by Jean Duvet, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a crowded scene of robed figures standing on columns. At the center, one man holds up two stone tablets with writing. Around him, other men—some with crowns, others with books or staffs—stand in a half-circle. The background is packed with tiny faces and swirling lines, like a busy stage. Notice how the artist used fine lines to build up shadows and textures—this is called cross-hatching. The names carved into the columns (like *Noe* and *Moses*) hint at biblical figures, but the faces are more symbolic than realistic. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with just lines.
Jean Duvet (1485 – after 1562) was a French Renaissance goldsmith and engraver, now best known for his engravings.
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