Cosa (chi) è Chiaroscuro - definizione
![Still from [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s 1975 film ''[[Barry Lyndon]]'', some of which was shot using only candlelight](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Barry12.jpg?width=200 "Still from [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s 1975 film ''[[Barry Lyndon]]'', some of which was shot using only candlelight")
![''Christ at Rest'', by [[Hans Holbein the Younger]], 1519, a chiaroscuro drawing using pen, ink, and brush, washes, white heightening, on ochre prepared paper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Christ at Rest, by Hans Holbein the Younger.jpg?width=200 "''Christ at Rest'', by [[Hans Holbein the Younger]], 1519, a chiaroscuro drawing using pen, ink, and brush, washes, white heightening, on ochre prepared paper")
![Nativity at Night]]'' by [[Geertgen tot Sint Jans]], c. 1490, after a composition by [[Hugo van der Goes]] of c. 1470; sources of light are the infant Jesus, the shepherds' fire on the hill behind, and the angel who appears to them.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Geertgen tot Sint Jans, The Nativity at Night, c 1490.jpg?width=200 "Nativity at Night]]'' by [[Geertgen tot Sint Jans]], c. 1490, after a composition by [[Hugo van der Goes]] of c. 1470; sources of light are the infant Jesus, the shepherds' fire on the hill behind, and the angel who appears to them.")
![''The Matchmaker'' by [[Gerrit van Honthorst]], 1625](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Gerrit van Honthorst - De koppelaarster.jpg?width=200 "''The Matchmaker'' by [[Gerrit van Honthorst]], 1625")
![Chiaroscuro woodcut of the Virgin and Child by [[Bartolommeo Coriolano]], created between 1630 and 1655 (digitally restored)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Mary Coriolano2.jpg?width=200 "Chiaroscuro woodcut of the Virgin and Child by [[Bartolommeo Coriolano]], created between 1630 and 1655 (digitally restored)")
![[[Peter Paul Rubens]]'s ''The Elevation of the Cross'' (1610–1611) is modelled with dynamic chiaroscuro.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Peter Paul Rubens - De kruisoprichting.JPG?width=200 "[[Peter Paul Rubens]]'s ''The Elevation of the Cross'' (1610–1611) is modelled with dynamic chiaroscuro.")
![[[Joseph Wright of Derby]] painted several large groups with strong chiaroscuro, such as ''[[A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery]]'', 1766](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Wright of Derby, The Orrery.jpg?width=200 "[[Joseph Wright of Derby]] painted several large groups with strong chiaroscuro, such as ''[[A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery]]'', 1766")
![[[Fra Angelico]] c. 1450 uses chiaroscuro modelling in all elements of the painting](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Fra Angelico 005.jpg?width=200 "[[Fra Angelico]] c. 1450 uses chiaroscuro modelling in all elements of the painting")
![''[[Saint Sebastian]]'' by [[Botticelli]], 1474](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sandro Botticelli 054.jpg?width=200 "''[[Saint Sebastian]]'' by [[Botticelli]], 1474")
![''[[Portrait of Juan de Pareja]]'', c. 1650 by [[Diego Velázquez]], uses subtle highlights and shading on the face and clothes](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Retrato de Juan Pareja, by Diego Velázquez.jpg?width=200 "''[[Portrait of Juan de Pareja]]'', c. 1650 by [[Diego Velázquez]], uses subtle highlights and shading on the face and clothes")
![The Milkmaid]]'' c. 1658, by [[Johannes Vermeer]], whose use of light to model throughout his compositions is exceptionally complex and delicate](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Johannes Vermeer - Het melkmeisje - Google Art Project.jpg?width=200 "The Milkmaid]]'' c. 1658, by [[Johannes Vermeer]], whose use of light to model throughout his compositions is exceptionally complex and delicate")
![Delicate engraved lines of hatching and cross-hatching, not all distinguishable in reproduction, are used to model the faces and clothes in this late-fifteenth-century [[engraving]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Meckenem.jpg?width=200 "Delicate engraved lines of hatching and cross-hatching, not all distinguishable in reproduction, are used to model the faces and clothes in this late-fifteenth-century [[engraving]]")
.jpg?width=200 "Another fifteenth-century engraving showing highlights and shading, all in lines in the original, used to depict volume")
![Drawing by [[Leonardo da Vinci]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Study of Arms and Hands.jpg?width=200 "Drawing by [[Leonardo da Vinci]]")
![''[[Annunciation]]'' by [[Domenico Beccafumi]], 1545–46](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Domenico Beccafumi 070.jpg?width=200 "''[[Annunciation]]'' by [[Domenico Beccafumi]], 1545–46")
![''Allegory, Boy Lighting Candle in Company of Ape and Fool'' by [[El Greco]], 1589–1592](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/El Greco - Allegory, Boy Lighting Candle in Company of Ape and Fool (Fábula).JPG?width=200 "''Allegory, Boy Lighting Candle in Company of Ape and Fool'' by [[El Greco]], 1589–1592")
![Crucifixion of St. Peter]]'' by [[Caravaggio]], 1600](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Caravaggio-Crucifixion of Peter.jpg?width=200 "Crucifixion of St. Peter]]'' by [[Caravaggio]], 1600")
![''The Flight to Egypt'' by [[Adam Elsheimer]], 1609](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Adam Elsheimer - Die Flucht nach Ägypten (Alte Pinakothek) 2.jpg?width=200 "''The Flight to Egypt'' by [[Adam Elsheimer]], 1609")
![''St. Peter in prison'' by [[Rembrandt]], 1631](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Rembrandt van Rijn "Petrus in de gevangenis" (St. Peter in prison).jpg?width=200 "''St. Peter in prison'' by [[Rembrandt]], 1631")
![The Proposition]]'' by [[Judith Leyster]], 1631](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Judith Leyster The Proposition.jpg?width=200 "The Proposition]]'' by [[Judith Leyster]], 1631")
![''[[Magdalene with the Smoking Flame]]'', by [[Georges de La Tour]], c. 1640](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Georges de La Tour 007.jpg?width=200 "''[[Magdalene with the Smoking Flame]]'', by [[Georges de La Tour]], c. 1640")
![Landscape chiaroscuro, [[Jan Both]], 1646](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Bal26151-Jan-Both.jpg?width=200 "Landscape chiaroscuro, [[Jan Both]], 1646")
![Adoration of the Shepherds]]'' by [[Matthias Stom]], mid-17th century](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Gerard van Honthorst 002.jpg?width=200 "Adoration of the Shepherds]]'' by [[Matthias Stom]], mid-17th century")
![[[Antoine Watteau]] – ''La Partie carrée'', c. 1713](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Antoine Watteau - La Partie carrée.jpg?width=200 "[[Antoine Watteau]] – ''La Partie carrée'', c. 1713")
![''[[An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump]]'' by [[Joseph Wright of Derby]], 1768](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1768.jpg?width=200 "''[[An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump]]'' by [[Joseph Wright of Derby]], 1768")
![The Bolt]]'' by [[Jean-Honoré Fragonard]], c. 1777](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Jean-Honoré Fragonard 009.jpg?width=200 "The Bolt]]'' by [[Jean-Honoré Fragonard]], c. 1777")
![''Christ on the Mount of Olives'' by [[Francisco Goya]], 1819](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Goya Christ.jpg?width=200 "''Christ on the Mount of Olives'' by [[Francisco Goya]], 1819")
.jpg?width=200 "File:Golden Retriever Carlos im Wald (10580536693).jpg")
.jpeg?width=200 "File:Bembel With Care (167479007).jpeg")
.jpg?width=200 "File:Woman (Imagicity 501).jpg")
![''Saint Jerome'' by [[José de Ribera]], 1652](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/José de Ribera 011.jpg?width=200 "''Saint Jerome'' by [[José de Ribera]], 1652")
![''An Old Man in Red'', by [[Rembrandt]], 1652–1654](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn - An Old Man in Red.JPG?width=200 "''An Old Man in Red'', by [[Rembrandt]], 1652–1654")
![''[[The Knitting Girl]]'' by [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]], 1869](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/The Knitting Woman painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau.jpg?width=200 "''[[The Knitting Girl]]'' by [[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]], 1869")
![''Self-Portrait'' by [[John Everett Millais]], 1881](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Millais - Self-Portrait.jpg?width=200 "''Self-Portrait'' by [[John Everett Millais]], 1881")
![''[[Man of Sorrows]]'', chiaroscuro drawing on coloured paper, 1516, by [[Hans Springinklee]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Springinklee schmerzensmann.jpg?width=200 "''[[Man of Sorrows]]'', chiaroscuro drawing on coloured paper, 1516, by [[Hans Springinklee]]")
 - Study of a Seated Veiled Female Figure (19th Century).png?width=200 "A nineteenth-century version of the original type of chiaroscuro drawing, with coloured paper, white gouache highlights, and pencil shading")
![Saturn]], anon. Italian, sixteenth-century?, Italian style chiaroscuro woodcut, with four blocks, but no real line block, and looking rather like a watercolour](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/5316 bassenge saturn.jpg?width=200 "Saturn]], anon. Italian, sixteenth-century?, Italian style chiaroscuro woodcut, with four blocks, but no real line block, and looking rather like a watercolour")
![[[Ludolph Buesinck]], Aeneas carries his father, German style, with line block and brown tone block](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/5049 bassenge chiaroscuro.jpg?width=200 "[[Ludolph Buesinck]], Aeneas carries his father, German style, with line block and brown tone block")
Wikipedia
Chiaroscuro (Italian for 'light-dark'; English: ; kee-AR-ə-SKOOR-oh, -SKURE-; Italian: [ˌkjaroˈskuːro]), in art, is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to achieve a sense of volume in modelling three-dimensional objects and figures. Similar effects in cinema, and black and white and low-key photography, are also called chiaroscuro.
Further specialized uses of the term include chiaroscuro woodcut for coloured woodcuts printed with different blocks, each using a different coloured ink; and chiaroscuro drawing for drawings on coloured paper in a dark medium with white highlighting.
Chiaroscuro originated in the Renaissance period but is most notably associated with Baroque art. Chiaroscuro is one of the canonical painting modes of the Renaissance (alongside cangiante, sfumato and unione) (see also Renaissance art). Artists known for using the technique include Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Goya, and Georges de La Tour.
