Raphael's Amasia, commonly called La Fornarina c. 18th century

Editor: This is Domenico Cunego's "Raphael's Amasia, commonly called La Fornarina." I'm struck by the delicate rendering of light and shadow. What can you tell me about the composition and formal elements at play here? Curator: Note the emphasis on line and tonal gradations rather than vibrant color. Cunego masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching to simulate the luminosity and texture of skin, drapery, and foliage. Observe the almost symmetrical structure lending an air of composed serenity. Editor: So, it's the arrangement and execution of line and light that really define the work? Curator: Precisely. The formal elements create a self-contained, idealized vision, quite apart from historical context. Editor: That emphasis on formal qualities really changes my perspective. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Seeing through form allows a different kind of understanding.