Who painted The Transfiguration?

The Transfiguration was painted by William Blake in 1780.

Where can I see The Transfiguration?

The Transfiguration is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Transfiguration?

The Transfiguration is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

The Transfiguration

William Blake , 1780

The Transfiguration is a watercolor work on paper by the Neoclassicist artist William Blake. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

William Blake’s watercolour on paper, signed with his initials, portrays the biblical Transfiguration described in Luke 9:30. The composition is densely packed, with figures interlaced in a turbulent, cloud‑filled space that conveys both ascent and descent. Light and darkness clash across the surface, creating a dramatic visual narrative that reflects the moment’s spiritual intensity.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures the moment when Christ is transformed before his disciples, radiating divine light while surrounded by a tumult of heavenly and earthly presences. Blake’s rendering emphasizes the mystery of revelation, using blurred faces and overlapping forms to suggest the ineffable nature of the divine encounter and the disciples’ awe‑struck confusion.

Technique & Style

Executed in watercolour, the work exploits the medium’s capacity for stark contrast, juxtaposing luminous areas against deep, almost black shadows. Rough, gestural lines and heavy shading generate a sense of motion, while the softened, indistinct facial features enhance the ethereal atmosphere. Blake’s handling of light and mythic imagery aligns with his broader visual language.

History & Provenance

The watercolour formed part of the collection of Thomas Butts, a close patron of Blake who acquired several of the artist’s works. The piece bears Blake’s initials, confirming its authorship, and its provenance traces back to the early 19th‑century assemblage of Butts’s holdings.

Context

Created during a period when Blake frequently explored biblical and visionary themes, this work reflects his interest in the interplay between the visible world and spiritual revelation. The Transfiguration, a pivotal event in the Gospels, offered Blake a framework to merge scriptural narrative with his own symbolic visual vocabulary.