A group of people gambling 1770 - 1800

This etching, *A group of people gambling* (1770-1800), by Italian artist Pellegrino dal Colle (1737-1812), depicts a scene of gambling with five figures. The print, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures the desperation of the gamblers. The composition is dramatic, with the figures arranged in a circle and the action taking place in the foreground. The details of the clothes and the expressions on the faces of the figures help create a sense of realism. The piece exemplifies dal Colle's talent for capturing the human condition with expressive linework and masterful detail.