The Metals Flee from Vulcan, who Seeks to Free Them from the Rocks c. 1530 - 1535

Editor: This is Domenico Beccafumi's "The Metals Flee from Vulcan, who Seeks to Free Them from the Rocks." I find the composition chaotic, yet the linework is very precise. What do you see in it? Curator: Note how the artist’s use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, lending depth to the forms and intensifying the sense of movement. Observe too, the deliberate arrangement of figures in relation to one another. Editor: That’s a great point. I didn't notice how the contrast emphasizes the figures' struggle. Thanks for pointing out the use of the lines! Curator: The lines are the key element. Now, if you look at the upper left, do you notice a figure alone holding a staff? Editor: Now I see him, separated from the group and higher up. I wonder if he is leading or guarding. Thank you!