1533
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Untitled is a 1533 by Agostino dei Musi, a Renaissance work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This black-and-white print shows a dramatic scene with three figures. A woman in flowing robes stands, holding a glowing object that looks like a mirror or sunburst. A muscular man kneels beside her, touching her arm. On the ground, a smaller figure lies asleep, clutching a staff and a small dog. Notice how the artist uses deep shadows and strong light to make the figures look three-dimensional. The textures—like the woman’s fabric or the man’s muscles—pop out clearly. Check out the Renaissance movement to see how artists like this used light and shadow to tell stories.
In this 16th-century print, the infant Hercules is depicted in his cradle, grasping and strangling two serpents, while Amphitrite approaches with a lamp to observe the scene. The work is based on a design by Giulio Romano and was produced by Agostino dei Musi, with later retouching and a modified date of 1533.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Agostino Veneziano ("Venetian Agostino"), whose real name was Agostino de' Musi (c. 1490 – c. 1540), was an important and prolific Italian engraver of the Renaissance.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
