Who painted Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres?

Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres was painted by Leonard Bramer in 1635.

Where can I see Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres?

Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres?

Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres

Leonard Bramer , 1635

Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Leonard Bramer. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Leonard Bramer’s drawing entitled *Stellio Changed into a Lizard by Ceres* dates from 1635. Executed with brush and black ink, augmented by a gray wash and selective white heightening, the work exists as a single-sheet study. Its composition presents a solitary figure in a nocturnal landscape, rendered with a stark, monochromatic palette that emphasizes contrast and form.

Subject & Meaning

The face is split between human features and reptilian scales, while claws replace fingers and a sinuous tail arches upward.

The image depicts a man contorted on a rocky outcrop, his limbs and torso merging into the anatomy of a lizard. The face is split between human features and reptilian scales, while claws replace fingers and a sinuous tail arches upward. The surrounding darkness, a suspended moon, and distant ruins suggest a mythological transformation, likely referencing the ancient tale of Ceres’ power to alter flesh.

Technique & Style

Bramer employs only black ink for line work, layering a muted gray wash to model volume and depth. White highlights are applied sparingly to accentuate the creature’s skin and the moonlit background. The drawing’s lines are loose and gestural, conveying a sense of immediacy; the unfinished quality indicates a preparatory sketch rather than a finished composition, highlighting the artist’s exploratory approach.

History & Provenance

Created in the early seventeenth century, the drawing has remained attributed to Bramer, an English draughtsman known for his allegorical subjects. Documentation places the work in private collections before its recent appearance in a museum acquisition catalog, where it is listed under the artist’s name and dated to 1635. No further ownership changes are recorded.