There was artist who worked from a studio in his home. He specialized in nudes, and had been working on what he thought would be a masterpiece for several months now.
His model showed up and, after exchanging the usual greetings and small talk, she began to undress for the day’s work.
He told her not to bother, since he felt pretty bad with a cold he had been fighting. He added that he would pay her for the day, but that she could just go home; he just wanted some hot tea and then, off to bed.
The model said, “Oh, please, let me fix it for you. It’s the least I can do.”
He agreed and told her to fix herself a cup too. They were sitting in the living room exchanging small talk and enjoying their tea, when he heard the front door open and close, then some familiar footsteps.
“Oh my God!” he whispered loudly, “It’s my wife! Quick! Take all your clothes off.”
You could be forgiven for thinking that these portraits are photographs, but believe it or not they’re actually drawings by Italian artist Emanuele Dascanio.
Some of them take up to 780 hours to complete, and it’s easy to see why when you look at the artist’s amazingly lifelike creations. He draws them using a combination of charcoal and graphite and the subjects are often illuminated with a single source of light that gives every piece a certain renaissance quality about it. This isn’t just a coincidence however, as Dascanio was taught the oil techniques of the old renaissance masters by Italian painter Gianluca Corona. He then combined this knowledge with his own unique style in order to create the beautiful portraits that perfectly blend the classic with the contemporary.
At first glance, the highly-technical drawings of Emanuele Dascanio look as though they’re photographs—it’s only until you see the Italian artist put pencil to paper that you realize and appreciate the true value of his artistic skill. The large, labor-intensive portraits—some that take up to 780 hours to complete—feature a combination of graphite and charcoal that are expertly rendered to form hyperrealistic compositions. Against a pitch-black backdrop, the illuminated figures’ incredible details are brought to life: every stray hair, wrinkle, and fold of fabric is visible.
Although Dascanio’s work is contemporary, it has a classic feel to it. The subjects are often lit with a dramatic single light source that recalls the paintings of Caravaggio, the renowned 16th century artist. This influence was fostered by Dascanio’s assistantship to Italian painter Gianluca Corona, who taught him the oil techniques of the old masters working during the Renaissance. Dascanio has since translated these skills into the monochromatic works that undoubtedly fool the eye with their extreme precision.
