Horatius 1804

Damiano Pernati created this print, Horatius, sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Its fine, delicate lines and classical subject matter suggest both elegance and contemplation. The composition centers on the seated figure of Horatius, framed against a landscape with rocks, foliage and clouds. Pernati’s use of line here is precise, delineating forms and textures with a controlled hand. The figure's classical drapery and serene pose are rendered with minimal shading, emphasizing line over volume and depth. The landscape beyond is similarly treated, with light hatching suggesting depth and atmosphere. We could say that the image flattens out into a decorative frieze. Horatius’s gesture may be read as an invocation, or benediction. It is this clarity of line and form, combined with the classical subject matter that invites the viewer to reflect on the timeless qualities of art and nature. The work encourages us to look closely at the harmony between form and idea.