Floating man
Date
1794
Creator
Guglielmo Morghen (1780 - 1825, 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 near-nude man floating in the sea in a relaxed posture. His legs are loosely crossed and held with interlaced fingers. The waterline is indicated at shoulder level.
Plate 5 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,.V.’ Below: ‘Francesco Lapegna dis. dal Naturale. Gugl. Morghen inc.’
The illustration is intended to be instructional, in Bernardi’s manual of swimming practice. It accompanies lesson 5 on floating in the book: ‘Precetti per prendere nell'acqua la postura a sedere ; a conservarne, cosi gallegaggiando, la fermezza dell' equilibrio.’ [Precepts for taking a sitting posture in water; and to float in this way, maintaining a good balance].
Oronzio de’ Bernardi (1620-1707), Italian priest and author of a manual of swimming. Bernardi was not a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Plate 5 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,.V.’ Below: ‘Francesco Lapegna dis. dal Naturale. Gugl. Morghen inc.’
The illustration is intended to be instructional, in Bernardi’s manual of swimming practice. It accompanies lesson 5 on floating in the book: ‘Precetti per prendere nell'acqua la postura a sedere ; a conservarne, cosi gallegaggiando, la fermezza dell' equilibrio.’ [Precepts for taking a sitting posture in water; and to float in this way, maintaining a good balance].
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