1572
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Flaying of Marsyas is a 1572 ink by Paolo Farinati, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a chaotic scene of a man being tortured. One figure is stretched out on the ground, his skin peeled back, while others stand around him with weapons. The background is rough, with trees and clouds drawn in quick, sketchy lines. The artist used ink and wash to create strong contrasts between light and dark. The white highlights make the skin and muscles stand out sharply. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
Paolo Farinati (also known as Farinato or Farinato degli Uberti; c. 1524 – c. 1606) was an Italian painter of the Mannerist style, active mainly in his native Verona, but also in Mantua and Venice. He may have ancestors…
See the richer artist page
