Artwork
Man Driving an Animal
Man Driving an Animal is a watercolor print by the Baroque artist Giovanni Francesco Costa. It dates from 1747 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Francesco Costa’s print, titled Man Driving an Animal, dates to around 1747. Executed as an etching on laid paper, the work is enhanced with hand‑applied watercolor, adding vivid accents to the monochrome line work. The composition depicts a rider astride a large brown beast, navigating a craggy terrain while colorful elements flutter behind them.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a solitary figure guiding a sizable animal across a stony landscape, suggesting themes of travel, control, or the relationship between human and beast. The rider’s sideways posture and the presence of a small bird perched nearby introduce a narrative tension, while the bright feathers or fabric introduce a decorative, possibly symbolic, contrast to the rugged setting.
Technique & Style
Costa employed traditional intaglio etching to render the animal’s fur, the rocky ground, and the surrounding foliage, creating a range of line textures.
Costa employed traditional intaglio etching to render the animal’s fur, the rocky ground, and the surrounding foliage, creating a range of line textures. After printing, he applied watercolor washes by hand, using glazing techniques to build layers of red and green that highlight the feathers and rocks. This combination of printmaking and painterly coloration yields a hybrid visual effect characteristic of mid‑18th‑century Italian prints.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1747, the work reflects Costa’s activity in the mid‑1700s, a period when Italian printmakers often incorporated hand‑coloring to increase the appeal of their images. While specific ownership records are not detailed, the piece exemplifies the era’s practice of producing limited‑edition prints for collectors interested in both technical skill and decorative appeal.
Artist & collection
