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Example of a pricked picture




Daniele da Volerra, 1533, Florence, Italy


Example of Pouncing in Sistine Chapel.You can still see the pounced holes.


All the drawings for the Sistine Chapel were burnt in 1518. Michelangelo died in 1564. Pouncing is a technique where you transfer the image of the cartoon (drawing) to the plaster wall:

  • 1) You prick the cartoon with holes on the main lines.

  • 2) Tack the paper to the fresh plastered wall and then taps the holes with a porous bag of charcoal.