The Cumaean Sibyl
1517
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1517
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Cumaean Sibyl is a 1517 ink by Jean Duvet, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a woman with long hair sitting under an archway, holding a scroll. Above her, a winged figure floats, pointing upward. A small cherub stands to her left, looking at the woman. The background has buildings and a cityscape, drawn in fine lines. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and textures—this is called cross-hatching. The scene looks like it’s telling a story, not just showing a place. Try looking up *cross-hatching* to see how artists create depth with lines.
