Artwork
The "Well," for Violators of State Law
The "Well," for Violators of State Law is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Giovanni De Pian. It dates from 1797 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The 'Well,' for Violators of State Law is a somber etching and aquatint print created by Giovanni De Pian in 1797, currently housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a dismal prison cell with three figures in various states of distress: one near death on the floor, another standing with a torch pointing at a crumbling wall, and a third slumped in the corner, face hidden. The scene conveys overwhelming hopelessness and despair, highlighting the harsh treatment of those who violated state laws.
Technique & Style
De Pian employed expressive shading through etching and aquatint to achieve a dark, heavy atmosphere, emphasizing the bleakness of the prison environment and the plight of its occupants.
History & Provenance
Created in 1797, the work is now part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., though specific details of its acquisition or earlier ownership are not provided here.
Artist & collection
The "Ovens," for Those Who Wouldn't Admit Their Crimes
The "Giardin Scuro," for Executions by Strangling
The "Well," for Violators of State Law
An Old Man Leaning on a Sack
The Last Underground Prison: He Fell Dead into His Brother's Arms
Underground Prisons, Known as "the Wells"
The "Giardin Scuro," for Executions by Strangling
The "Sotto Piombi," Where Death Sentences Were Read
