Metal point
Description
A metal tool used for drawing on a Paper or Parchment support which has been covered by a Ground. As the point moves across the ground, it leaves behind a thin layer of metal that can quickly quickly oxidize. For example, Silver point becomes the brownish grey of tarnished silver and Lead point becomes quite dark. The marks are permanent, and the colored ground may be more light-sensitive than the design. Metal points are also prepared from soft metals such as Gold and other metals such as Aluminum, Antimony, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Nickel, Palladium, Platinum, Tin, or Zinc, that produce distinct marks from the direct deposition of the metal. Metal point has been used by artists from the 15th century to the present day.
Synonyms and Related Terms
metalpoint; silver point; lead point; gold point
Additional Images
Metalpoint
Metal point
15th century style silver point
Lead point
Lead-tin alloy metal point
Silver point
Tin point
Metalpoint at 100x
Colors of a variety of metalpoints
Andreas Avester at Metal point drawings
Tarnished colors for a variety of metalpoints
Andreas Avester at Metal point drawings
Resources and Citations
- Andreas Avestar: Metalpoint drawings
- Thea Burns, The Luminous Trace: Drawing and Writing in Metalpoint. London: Archetype Publications, 2012.
- Italian Renaissance Drawings: Technical Examination and Analysis. Janet Ambers, Catherine Higgitt and David Saunders (ed.), The British Museum, 2010.
- Media & Techniques of Works of Art on Paper, New York University, New York, 1999
- The Bullfinch Guide to Art History, Shearer West (ed.), Bullfinch Press, Boston, 1996
- James Watrous, The Craft of Old-Master Drawings, University of Wisconsin Press, 1957.