Antonio Canova
1822
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1822
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly hair and a high collar. His face is turned slightly to the side, and he wears a dark jacket. The background is plain, keeping all focus on his expression. The signature at the bottom reads "Antonio Canova," but this is actually a printed portrait. The fine lines and shading suggest it’s made with a technique that builds up details with tiny dots or strokes. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Thomson created portraits this way.
