Tail Piece from Michaelangelo's Faun 1883

Joseph Pennell created this pen and ink drawing in 1883, while in Florence. He was an American expatriate artist known for his etchings and lithographs. Pennell uses a relatively simple technique here, exploiting the fluidity of ink to capture the decorative detail. Look closely, and you can see the variation in line weight, creating depth and shadow, and describing the textures of the floral elements, ribbons and weapons that are depicted. The drawing itself reproduces a tail piece from Michaelangelo’s Faun – an ornamental design frequently used at the end of chapters or sections in printed books. The image shows the artist looking back at the work of another, drawing it by hand, using a skill-based tradition of creative practices that blurs the boundaries between fine art, illustration and printmaking. Paying attention to the materials and processes employed allows us to better appreciate the layers of meaning embedded in this artwork, and helps us move beyond a rigid categorization of art forms.