Artwork
Tommaso Salini
Tommaso Salini is an ink print by the Baroque artist Ottavio Leoni. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This style was common in Baroque art, where details like folds in fabric or wrinkles in skin mattered a lot.
This engraving shows a serious-looking man in a wide-brimmed hat and a ruffled shirt. His collar is starched, and his beard is neatly trimmed. In the corners, two smaller faces peek out—one from the left, one from the right—like silent observers.
The artist signed it in 1625, and the lines are packed tight to create shadows and texture. This style was common in Baroque art, where details like folds in fabric or wrinkles in skin mattered a lot.
Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this used ink and metal plates to make prints.
Overview
Tommaso Salini is an engraving created by Ottavio Leoni in 1625, exemplifying the artist's printmaking practice during the early Baroque period in Rome.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving portrays Tommaso Salini, a serious-looking man adorned with a wide-brimmed hat, ruffled shirt, starched collar, and neatly trimmed beard. The composition includes two smaller, observant faces in the corners, adding a layer of intrigue to the primary subject.
Technique & Style
Leoni employed tightly packed lines to achieve deep shadows and textured effects, characteristic of Baroque printmaking. This emphasis on detail, evident in fabric folds and facial features, aligns with the period's artistic values.
History & Provenance
The engraving is signed and dated to 1625, directly attributing it to Ottavio Leoni's active period in Rome. Further provenance details are not provided.
Context
Created amidst the flourishing Baroque in 17th-century Rome, Tommaso Salini reflects the era's artistic preoccupations with expressive detail and dramatic depth.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ottavio Leoni (1578 – 4 September 1630) was an Italian painter and printmaker of the early-Baroque, active mainly in Rome.
