Panel of Ornament
1561
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Giovanni Battista Pittoni
Giovanni Battista Pittoni (1556–1566) was an artist.
See the richer artist page1561
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Panel of Ornament is a 1561 ink by Giovanni Battista Pittoni, a Renaissance work, depicting Putti, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows swirling vines, flowers, and tiny animals carved into a sheet of paper. The lines are sharp and deep, made by scratching the metal plate with a needle before inking it. Those grooves hold the ink that prints the image. Look closely at the bottom left corner. Tiny numbers mark each step of the process, like a recipe for this print. Someone carefully counted every scratch to make sure the design stayed perfect. This method is called drypoint. Try comparing it to etching by Pittoni, Giovanni Battista.
Giovanni Battista Pittoni (1556–1566) was an artist.
See the richer artist page
