METAL POINT


Meaning of METAL POINT in English

or silverpoint

Method of drawing with a small sharpened metal rod

of lead, copper, gold, or most commonly silver

on specially prepared paper or parchment.

Silverpoint produces a fine gray line that oxidizes to a light brown; the technique is best suited for small-scale work. It first appeared in medieval Italy and achieved great popularity in the 15th century. Albrecht Dürer and Leonardo da Vinci were its greatest exponents. It went out of fashion in the 17th century with the rise of the graphite pencil but was revived in the 18th century by the miniaturists and in the 20th century by Joseph Stella.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.