silverpoint

1 9.9

A drawing made with a thin silver point on special paper

noun
/ˈsɪlvərˌpɔɪnt/

Specialized

: dibujo a la plata

During the Renaissance, many artists created silverpoint drawings that showcased their remarkable skill.
silverpoint drawing

Examples

The artist used silverpoint to create delicate details.
Artists prized silverpoint for its fine lines and delicate shading.
She experimented with silverpoint before moving on to other drawing techniques.
The museum displayed a rare silverpoint by Leonardo da Vinci.
Many silverpoints from the Renaissance period are preserved in museums.
A silverpoint drawing requires a specially coated paper to create the fine, delicate lines typical of this technique.
The museum featured an exhibition of silverpoint artworks from the 15th and 16th centuries, highlighting this historic medium.

Surface Forms

silverpoint singular

silverpoints plural

Morphology

silverpoint = silver + point (semi-transparent) = silver + point

The compound is literally silver + point so components are clear, but the term denotes a specific historical art technique/medium and may not be obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Silverpoint comes from the metal silver and the word point, which means 'tip', because artists used a tiny silver tip to make marks on specially prepared paper. So a silverpoint is simply a drawing made with that silver tip, which is why the lines are very fine and delicate.