1780
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Holy Family with God the Father is a 1780 ink by Gaetano Gandolfi, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a group of three figures in a rocky landscape. One person stands with arms raised, another kneels holding a child, and a third figure sits nearby with a plant. Above them, a hand reaches down from the sky, and birds fly around. The lines are loose and swirling, with soft brown tones. The artist used a mix of etching and aquatint to create the textured, dreamy look. The scene feels dramatic but gentle, with flowing lines that guide your eye. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how these techniques work.
Gaetano Gandolfi (31 August 1734 – 20 June 1802) was an Italian painter, draughtsman and sculptor of the late Baroque period, mainly active in and around Bologna.
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