I marvel at the engraving work of Firmo Fracassi. With a few inches of steel for a canvas and a hand held bulino (graver) he creates millions of dots that become scenes beyond comprehension. Gazing at a cape buffalo he created, Ruark's words come to life. "He looks like you owe him money." My favorites are his setters and I see that one of these, on a 20ga Rizzini, is in the August 26-28 Rock Island auction.
I have Stephen and Elena Lamboy's book on Fracassi. Each of us can decide for ourselves how he is able to create these intricate and near microscopic masterpieces. For me, I don't know how to understand it apart from the imago dei.
Even though he is in his 80's and still working a gun can take a year or more to complete so there can't be that many of them out there and the availability of this one is a rare happening.
This article from a 2011 Sporting Classics gives a brief introduction into his life and his and his daughter's art.
https://sportingclassicsdaily.com/firmo-fracassi/
