Artwork
New Mack'rel
New Mack'rel is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Niccolò Schiavonetti. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Niccolò Schiavonetti’s 1795 work, titled New Mack’rel, is a color stipple engraving. The image presents a quiet domestic scene in which three women are gathered beside a basket of fish, set against a modest architectural backdrop that includes a window and a door.
Subject & Meaning
The central focus is the interaction among the three figures. The woman on the left, dressed in a white gown with a blue shawl and a hat, holds a fish and appears to be speaking to her companions. The middle figure wears a blue dress and hat, while the woman on the right is clad in a white dress with a blue apron, suggesting a shared activity, perhaps related to market or household chores.
Technique & Style
Executed in color stipple engraving, the work achieves a gentle, almost velvety surface through the accumulation of fine dots. Pastel hues dominate the palette, reinforcing a calm atmosphere. The stipple method allows subtle gradations of tone, giving the scene a delicate, almost painterly quality despite its print medium.
History & Provenance
Created in 1795, New Mack’rel reflects Schiavonetti’s engagement with popular print techniques of the late eighteenth century. While specific ownership records are scarce, the engraving aligns with the period’s interest in genre scenes that depict everyday life with refined, decorative execution.
Artist & collection
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