Artwork
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is a print by the Renaissance artist Italian 16th Century. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The print 'Sacrifice' is a niello print depicting a dramatic scene. It features a group of robed figures gathered around a small platform, set against a dense, chaotic backdrop of foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The figures' faces are indistinct, making it difficult to discern their identities or the specific event being depicted. The scene's ambiguity adds to its enigmatic quality.
Technique & Style
The use of dark tones and strong contrast, achieved through chiaroscuro, creates a sense of drama and highlights the figures. The niello technique, involving the application of a black metallic alloy, allows for the creation of deep, rich tones.
Artist & collection
Artist
A 16th-century Italian sculptor left us small bronze works in dark brown and gold.
Artaxerxes Receiving the Head of Cyrus
Mucius Scaevola
The Passion: Christ before Caiaphas
Execution
a) The Baptism of Christ; b) Draped Figure Holding a Book and Man Wielding an Ax with a Figure
Dante Lost in the Wood: Escaping and Meeting Virgil, Canto I
Entombment
The Three Horatii
The Triumph of Julius Caesar: Soldiers Carrying Banners and Standards
The Passion: The Raising of Lazarus
Ecce Homo
Roman General Addressing His Troops