Artwork

The Medici Wrestlers, side view, turned to left [plate 36]

The Medici Wrestlers, side view, turned to left [plate 36], by François Perrier, ink, 1638
The Medici Wrestlers, side view, turned to left [plate 36], by François Perrier, ink, 1638

The Medici Wrestlers, side view, turned to left [plate 36] is an ink print by the Baroque artist François Perrier. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1638 etching on laid paper, titled 'The Medici Wrestlers, side view, turned to left', is a print by French artist François Perrier, reproducing an antique sculpture.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts a classical scene of two nude men wrestling on the ground, set against a backdrop with a column and foliage, emphasizing their dynamic, muscular forms.

Technique & Style

Perrier's use of etching technique achieves a detailed, high-contrast representation, with the wrestlers as the main focus and the background fading into the distance.

History & Provenance

The print is part of Perrier's 'Segmenta nobilium signorum et statuarum', a collection aimed at preserving ancient sculptures for artists and collectors, influencing the spread of Roman Baroque style in France.

Artist & collection

Portrait of François Perrier

Artist

François Perrier

François Perrier (French pronunciation: ; 1590–1650) was a French painter, draftsman, and printmaker.

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