Artwork

"...disposto...disposto sempre all'ubbidienza" (Always Ready to Obey)

"...disposto...disposto sempre all'ubbidienza" (Always Ready to Obey), by Gallo Gallina, ink, 1829
"...disposto...disposto sempre all'ubbidienza" (Always Ready to Obey), by Gallo Gallina, ink, 1829

"...disposto...disposto sempre all'ubbidienza" (Always Ready to Obey) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Gallo Gallina. It dates from 1829 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. ".

About this work

Overview

"...disposto...disposto sempre all'ubbidienza" (Always Ready to Obey) is a lithograph on wove paper by Gallo Gallina, dated to 1829. The print depicts a tense, dramatic scene involving four male figures near a small stone chapel set against a mountainous landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The scene unfolds with a man in refined attire wielding a sword, another kneeling with arms raised in supplication or protest, a third gesticulating emphatically, and a fourth, dressed as a priest, standing with clasped hands. The dynamics of power, obedience, and possibly conflict are underscored by the contrasting postures and attire of the figures.

Technique & Style

Gallo Gallina utilized lithography, a technique allowing direct drawing onto stone, to achieve sharp lines that accentuate the tension among the figures. The emphasis on detailed clothing and expressive body language characterizes the print's style, enhancing the dramatic intensity of the moment captured.

History & Provenance

Created in 1829, specific details regarding the print's provenance and historical context of creation are not provided. The work reflects the early 19th-century adoption of lithography as an expressive medium.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Gallo Gallina

Artist

Gallo Gallina

Gallo Gallina (1828–1830) was an artist.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.