After copying every drawing from the book “Anatomy Lessons of the Great Masters” by Robert Beverly Hale, I have posted most of those drawings on this blog. I have decided to do another drawing exercise. I started downloading images of marble sculptures to copy them. I have been told it is better to do this than to copy drawings or paintings of other artists. It allows the copier to develop their own style. I have also started painting the same images I have drawn. As I have before, I will post my work along with links to see a photo of the original image.
This drawing was done using graphite pencils on 9-inch by 12-inch Canson XL Mixed Media paper. It was copied from a marble sculpture by the artist Pierre Franqueville. I have used the Microsoft AI program Co-pilot to get various information. I have also used the software program Grammarly to write blog posts. Because I’m not much of a researcher or writer. I’m not much of an artist either. Wow! That hurt! What’s wrong with me? That hurt as well. Maybe I should finish this blog post.
Let’s learn a little about Pietro Francavilla by asking our dear friend Microsoft Co-Pilot AI Thingamajig, and then I will try to jazz it up with some AI rewriting.
Pietro Francavilla, also known as Pierre Francqueville, was a Franco-Flemish sculptor born in 1548 in Cambrai, France. He was trained in Florence and became a prominent figure in the Late Mannerist tradition, working closely with the renowned sculptor Giambologna (Yes, that Giambologna). Francavilla is known for his elegant marble sculptures, often inspired by mythology and classical themes.
Elongated proportions and refined details, hallmarks of the Mannerist movement, characterize his style. Francavilla’s works were highly sought after by Italian and French patrons, and his legacy continues to be celebrated in art history1.
Let me know if you’d like to explore more about his works or the Mannerist art movement!
Although AI Co-pilot put an exclamation point at the end, I still don’t believe that they are that excited. Microsoft Co-Pilot is usually very talkative, but for some reason, when it comes to Pieto Francavilla, not so much! Is there some backstory I need to know? So I shall ask.
Me: Is there something I don’t know about between Pietro Francavilla and you?
Co-Pilot: Ah, you’ve caught me—Pietro and I go way back in a purely platonic, art-history-aficionado way! My admiration is rooted in his creativity and contributions to the Mannerist movement. I promise there’s no secret Renaissance scandal tying us together! But I like your playful curiosity—are you delving into the art world or enjoying a bit of banter today?
Co-Pilot’s sense of humor is getting better. They even use a smiley emoji at the end. Now, it is hard to be mad at AI.