Tribute to Michelangelo III (Salut Michel-Ange III) is an artwork by Chinese contemporary artist Hongyu Zhang from the “Tribute to Masters” series.

The artist chose to represent the famous David by Michelangelo, exhibited at the Galleria dell’Academia of Firenze in Italy. Fascinated by this sculpture, Hongyu Zhang tries to “capture its energy” onto a two-dimensional support thanks to engraving and painting, two techniques he masters the expressive abilities. As a familiar mantra, the message “Salut Michel-Ange” is written several times, as if the Chinese painter was trying to invoke the Master.

With only a small amount of colours (a black, highlighted by a few colored touches of pastel) and with an impressive technical virtuosity, Hongyu Zhang manages to capture the beauty and presence of this Renaissance masterpiece. Through engraving, he describes the contours and volumes of the statue by digging into the surface of a cardboard panel. The line – learnt through his traditional Chinese calligraphy training - is the fundamental element in his art: here it gives dynamism, even lends an impression of movement in the subject. The artist then applies his colours using different techniques: ink, acrylic paint and pastel.

Zhang’s painting takes root in calligraphy and Chinese traditional art.

This artwork is signed, sold framed.