Swimming man
Date
1794
Creator
Vincenzo Scarpati (1762 - 1792, Italian) , Engraver
After
Francesco Antonio Lapegna (1769, Italian) , Painter
Object type
Library reference
27806
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 289mm
width (print): 195mm
width (print): 195mm
Description
Figure of a classically styled nude man in profile, swimming upright and using his outstretched arms for propulsion. His legs are crossed at the ankles. The waterline is indicated at shoulder level with his stroke indicated in the water by a bow wave.
Plate 7 from L'uomo galleggiante, o sia l'arte ragionata del nuoto; scoperta fisica [‘The floating man, or the reasoned art of swimming…], by Oronzio de’ Bernardi (Naples, 1794), pp.48/49. The plate is inscribed above: ‘Tav,.VII.’ Below: ‘F.Lapegna dis. dal Naturale. Scarparti’.
The illustration is intended to be instructional, in Bernardi’s manual of swimming practice. It accompanies lesson 5 on swimming in the book: ‘Modo per nuotare seduto nell'acqua colla direzione e di petto, e di spalla.’ [‘A way to swim sitting in the water with direction from the chest and shoulder’.]
Oronzio de’ Bernardi (1620-1707), Italian priest and author of a manual of swimming. Bernardi was not a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Plate 7 from L'uomo galleggiante, o sia l'arte ragionata del nuoto; scoperta fisica [‘The floating man, or the reasoned art of swimming…], by Oronzio de’ Bernardi (Naples, 1794), pp.48/49. The plate is inscribed above: ‘Tav,.VII.’ Below: ‘F.Lapegna dis. dal Naturale. Scarparti’.
The illustration is intended to be instructional, in Bernardi’s manual of swimming practice. It accompanies lesson 5 on swimming in the book: ‘Modo per nuotare seduto nell'acqua colla direzione e di petto, e di spalla.’ [‘A way to swim sitting in the water with direction from the chest and shoulder’.]
Oronzio de’ Bernardi (1620-1707), Italian priest and author of a manual of swimming. Bernardi was not a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Associated place