Artwork
Ciro Ferri
Ciro Ferri is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Carlo Lasinio. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Carlo Lasinio’s 1789 color mezzotint titled “Ciro Ferri” presents a solitary male figure rendered in a restrained palette. The print, executed in the mezzotint technique, emphasizes tonal gradations over line, focusing the viewer’s attention on the sitter’s face and subtle gestures. A faint signature appears at the lower edge, though the lettering is not fully legible.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a man with tightly curled hair and a composed, serious expression. He wears a dark overcoat contrasted by a light‑colored collar, and his right hand rests gently on a folded piece of cloth. The plain, unadorned background eliminates distractions, directing emphasis toward the sitter’s demeanor and attire.
Technique & Style
Lasinio employed the color mezzotint process, a printmaking method that builds rich, velvety tones through successive stages of scraping and burnishing. Soft shading creates a gradual transition from light to shadow, producing a three‑dimensional effect on the face. The chiaroscuro handling highlights the interplay of illumination and depth without relying on line work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1789, the work reflects the late‑eighteenth‑century interest in reproducing portraiture through print. While the exact ownership trail is not documented, the piece bears Lasinio’s signature, confirming its attribution. Its survival as a color mezzotint offers insight into the period’s technical experimentation with tonal print media.
Artist & collection
