1781
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Triumph of Truth Over Envy is a 1781 ink by Maria Catharina Prestel, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
A muscular figure stands above a writhing, many-armed creature, one arm raised like a hammer. The background swirls with clouds and mist, all in earthy browns and gold. The top figure’s face is calm, almost blank, while the tangled creature below looks pained. This print uses gold leaf to make the figures glow against the dark background. The artist played with light and shadow to create drama. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how prints like this were made.
Maria Katharina Prestel (22 July 1747 – 16 March 1794) née Maria Katharina Höll, was an engraver and painter from Nuremberg, and active in London.
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