The Infant Moses before Pharaoh, after Giovanni Battista Ruggieri 1759 - 1770

This drawing, "The Infant Moses before Pharaoh," was made by Jean Robert Ango, sometime in the late 1700s, after an original by Giovanni Battista Ruggieri. Ango chose graphite to capture the original composition. The soft, grey material allowed him to easily sketch the narrative of the infant Moses in front of the Pharaoh. The choice of graphite in itself is significant, as this material allowed for mass production through prints, therefore making art more accessible to a wider audience. The marks made are light, and display the ease with which graphite can be used to create an image. The varying degrees of shading and texture of the material also gives the image depth and volume, creating contrast between the figures. Ultimately, the material of graphite democratized art production, moving away from traditional methods, and allowing for wider consumption of imagery and narrative.