The Three Graces, 1786. Since ancient times, art critics had praised painters for their ability to portray subjects so lifelike that they might be mistaken for the real thing. The mastery of printing techniques that produced full-colour images like this one featuring female nudes with remarkably naturalistic skin gave French printmakers new capabilities that for centuries had been the exclusive domain of painters.

---

Size: 3560px × 4635px
Photo credit: © Heritage Art/Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1752-1814, 18th, antonio, art, century, cleveland, color, engraving, etching, france, french, giovanni, museum, pellegrini, print, wash-manner