Flower Vase from Italy

Born in Philadelphia, and having studied there and in Florence, Italy, Elsie Manville is known for her still lifes and interiors. This work is striking in its simplicity, and in the subtle gradations of line that create volume and light. The medium, silverpoint, was first used in the medieval period. In it, an artist uses a thin metal rod made of silver on a specially prepared paper, creating lines that oxidize to form the desired image. Once made, the lines cannot be removed, so it is a medium in which precision and forethought are of value.