Night c. 1550 - 1570
battistafranco
pencil drawn
toned paper
light pencil work
pencil sketch
personal sketchbook
pencil drawing
pen-ink sketch
limited contrast and shading
portrait drawing
pencil work
"Night," a 16th-century etching by Battista Franco, depicts the personification of Night, a reclining female figure with an owl at her feet, a symbol of nocturnal darkness. The composition is classic, with a central figure, and the use of drapery and light enhances the dramatic contrast of the scene. The etching is a fine example of the Renaissance interest in classical mythology and allegory, and Franco's work demonstrates the mastery of the technique of etching, creating a nuanced composition with detailed textures. "Night" is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Comments
Until recently, this engraving was completely unknown. On the basis of style and technique it can be attributed to the Venetian artist Battista Franco. In his early years Franco made numerous drawings after sculptures by Michelangelo, including his Four Times of the Day in the San Lorenzo Church in Florence. The printmaker added a sleeping boy to Michelangelo’s representation of Night.
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