Portret van schrijver Lapo da Castiglionchio 1755 - 1805

This is Gaetano Vascellini’s portrait of the writer Lapo da Castiglionchio, made using etching techniques. Notice how Vascellini employs a formal style, focusing on the subject’s profile. The artist utilizes a limited tonal range, creating subtle gradations in shading to model Lapo’s features and clothing. The sharp, clean lines define the contours of his face and robe, giving the portrait a crisp, almost graphic quality. The hatching and cross-hatching create depth and volume, particularly in the rendering of the face and the folds of the robe. The composition is carefully balanced, placing the figure slightly off-center to draw the eye across the image. The linear precision and clarity emphasize the intellectual and noble character of the sitter. The portrait’s formal restraint and attention to detail invite us to consider how such visual choices reflect the values of the time, where clarity and order were prized as virtues.