1626
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
God dividing light from darkness is a 1626 by Francesco Villamena, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print depicts a dramatic scene of a bearded figure, possibly a deity, dividing light from darkness. The figure is shown in mid-air, with his right arm outstretched and his left arm holding a flowing cloak. His face is contorted in a powerful expression. The background of the print features a subtle gradient of light and dark tones, which adds depth and contrast to the image. The overall effect is one of dynamic energy and movement, as if the figure is about to unleash a powerful force. For more works that explore the interplay of light and shadow, check out the technique of chiaroscuro.
Francesco Villamena’s 1626 etching *God Dividing Light from Darkness* reproduces a scene from Raphael’s Vatican Loggia fresco, depicting the biblical separation of light and darkness. The print, part of a set of twenty etchings based on Raphael’s biblical scenes, is executed in etching on paper. The Latin inscription references Genesis 1:6–7, aligning the image with its scriptural source.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Francesco Villamena (1564–1624) was an Italian engraver, drawing teacher and art collector.
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