Artwork
Niccolo Ricciolini
Niccolo Ricciolini 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 mezzotint titled Niccolò Ricciolini presents a solitary figure rendered in monochrome tones. The print captures a dignified gentleman with white, tightly curled hair, set against a deep, shadowy backdrop that isolates the portrait and emphasizes the sitter’s expression.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is depicted wearing a brown overcoat atop a white shirt with a high collar, his face marked by a serious, contemplative gaze. The inscription of his name beneath the image, rendered in a formal script, reinforces the work’s function as a commemorative likeness.
Technique & Style
Lasinio employs the mezzotint process, exploiting its capacity for subtle gradations of tone. Through careful manipulation of light and dark, the artist creates a chiaroscuro effect, where soft shadows model the facial features and the coat, lending a three‑dimensional quality to the otherwise flat medium.
History & Provenance
Produced in the late eighteenth century, the print reflects the period’s interest in portraiture as a means of documenting notable individuals. While specific details of its ownership trail are scarce, the work remains associated with Lasinio’s broader oeuvre of portrait prints, which were widely circulated among collectors of the era.
Artist & collection
