Gravure en Maniere Noire: pl. VII

Antonio Baratta after A.-J. de Fehrt

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of various engraving tools and techniques used in the "Maniere Noire" or mezzotint process. The drawing shows detailed illustrations of engraving tools numbered as figures 1 through 7, including burnishers and roulettes, which are depicted with precision and labeled with letters indicating parts and possibly instructions for use. Below the tools are geometric grids labeled Fig. 000 and Seconde Fig. 000, showing a grid system with lines and numbers for alignment or scaling purposes. In the bottom right corner is Fig. 9, a small shaded illustration of a sphere inside a box or open-faced cube, showcasing the chiaroscuro effect achievable through the engraving technique. The inscriptions "Gravure en Maniere Noire" and "Pl. VII" suggest this is an educational or instructional plate on mezzotint engraving.