Artwork Page for Sacrifice

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Sacrifice

c. 1775–1776

Giovanni David

(Italian, 1743–1790)
Culture
Italy, 18th century
Medium
etching and aquatint printed in black and brown, heightened with white gouache
Support
Blue paper
Measurements
Sheet: 24.2 x 17.6 cm (9 1/2 x 6 15/16 in.); Image: 22.7 x 16.1 cm (8 15/16 x 6 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1997.34
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

David was the most intriguing Genoese print-maker of the 18th century. Like Francisco Goya, his Spanish contemporary, he was a very early practitioner of aquatint, a technique invented in France about 1765. David's free, painterly handling of this type of etching medium, which produces the effect of a wash, created subtle effects of light and atmosphere.
A vertically oriented etching and aquatint in black and brown ink depicts three figures around a smoking burner. Centered, a figure in a laurel wreath holds a dish over rising smoke. To the left, a bearded man stands behind a sheep; to the right, a woman looks down with arms crossed. Fine, layered lines and white gouache define the scene against a mottled background. Below, "SAGRIFIZIO" is printed in capital letters.

Sacrifice

c. 1775–1776

Giovanni David

(Italian, 1743–1790)
Italy, 18th century

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