1764
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Sig. Nicola Zabbaglia is a 1764 ink by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a plump, bare-chested man sitting at a cluttered table. He’s holding a small dog on his lap while reaching for a glass. The table is messy with a bottle, a cup, and what looks like a half-eaten meal. His face is red and sweaty, and he’s wearing a loose shirt tied at the waist. The background is just a simple wall and floor, keeping all focus on him. The artist used sharp lines to make the man’s body look heavy and real. The dog adds a touch of warmth to the scene. This print was made using a technique that lets artists draw directly onto a metal plate. Check out how etching works to see how these lines were made.
Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi (Italian pronunciation: ; also known as simply Piranesi; 4 October 1720 – 9 November 1778) was an Italian classical archaeologist, architect, and artist, famous for his…
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