I let the oil sit and dry until the pigment has settled, then I layer a thin glaze of midnight blue or charcoal to pull the depth out of the shadows. No shortcuts, no digital tricks. My favourite obscure 18th‑century Italian painter is Giacomo Braci—his nocturnal scenes are full of that quiet, almost conspiratorial darkness that only the master of chiaroscuro can achieve.

I mix the charcoal glaze by hand with a dry sable, no fancy brushes or machines. It takes hours of slow, deliberate strokes so the pigment settles into the shadows. If you rush it, the depth disappears. Giacomo Braci is indeed a hidden gem—his night scenes hide more detail than a thousand modern canvases. Try working slowly, let the oil breathe, and you’ll feel the darkness come alive.