Pietro Aretino (1647)
Original title: Pietro Aretino
kurzbeschreibung
Pietro Aretino, the Tuscan poet, appears in this 1647 etching by Wenceslaus Hollar as a half-length portrait. The beard, the head covering and the striped garment define the image. The sheet is the second state of four and measures 18.7 x 13.3 cm.
Description
A man with a long, wavy beard and a cloth headdress reminiscent of traditional dress looks out from the picture. A garment with broad shoulder pieces and vertical stripes lies over his shoulders. At the bottom of the image field an inscription names the sitter and his origin as a Tuscan poet. Everything is centred on the face, and the light falls evenly, without harsh shadows, as was usual for portraits of this period.
Context
The Bohemian printmaker Wenceslaus Hollar made this portrait in 1647, during his years in England. It shows Pietro Aretino (1492–1556), a well-known Italian poet and satirist of the Renaissance. Hollar produced many reproductions after paintings and drawings; an older portrait of the poet probably served as the model for this sheet. The second state may contain reworking carried out for the printing.
Impact
Aretino comes across as calm and dignified in this etching. The even distribution of light and the clearly outlined forms let the poet stand out as an intellectual figure. The sober presentation supports this impression without pathos.
Technique
The lines of this etching were worked into an etched plate. Fine hatching and precise linework characterise Hollar's approach. The sheet is trimmed within the plate mark and measures 20.3 x 13.7 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)