Portret van Ennio Quirino Visconti 1765 - 1829

Pietro Becceni created this portrait of Ennio Quirino Visconti using engraving techniques. The composition is dominated by the oval frame, tightly containing Visconti's likeness. This immediately centers our attention on his face and upper body. Becceni masterfully uses contrasting densities of fine lines to model form and texture. Notice how the lines create a sense of volume in the face. The lines also carefully articulate the details of Visconti's clothing, from the soft curls of his hair to the crisp fabric of his coat. Here, the semiotic analysis reveals that Becceni uses formal qualities to convey classical portraiture's values, such as status and intellect. In summary, Becceni's engraving is an exercise in form and detail, where line and composition work to fix Visconti in the cultural imagination.