Emperor Octavian and the Sibyl

About this work

This print shows two people standing under an angel with big wings. The person on the left is kneeling with hands clasped, wearing a long robe and a pointed hat. The person on the right stands tall, holding a staff, dressed in a patterned cloak. Above them, the angel floats, holding a scroll, with a halo around its head. The green and yellow hand-coloring adds a simple but striking contrast to the black lines. This style was common in early printed images, where artists used metalcuts to make many copies. Look up technique: chiaroscuro next to see how light and shadow create depth.