A Nightmare 1770 - 1790

Giovanni David's "A Nightmare" (1770-1790) is a haunting depiction of a nightmarish scene, showcasing David's talent for capturing the macabre. The drawing, rendered in brown ink and wash, depicts a skeletal figure amidst a group of tormented figures, including a woman in a long white dress and a crouching man holding a book. The scene is bathed in an eerie, shadowy light, amplifying the sense of fear and unease. The work, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the dark and unsettling themes that preoccupied artists during this period.