Artwork
Transfiguration of Jesus Christ
Transfiguration of Jesus Christ is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Garcia Fernandes. It dates from 1537 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Ancient Art.
About this work
Overview
The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ is a 1537 oil painting by Garcia Fernandes, a Portuguese artist active during the Mannerist period.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a radiant figure, likely Jesus Christ, floating above a group of people, including Elijah, Isaiah, and John the Evangelist. The figures below react with awe, their dark robes contrasting with the central figure's halo and the surrounding clouds.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that exploits contrasts between light and dark, draws attention to the central figure. Fernandes' style blends Renaissance techniques with Mannerist traits, reflecting the artistic practices of 16th-century Portuguese workshops.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the National Museum of Ancient Art's collection. Fernandes worked extensively for monastic patrons in Coimbra and contributed to altarpieces and church commissions across Portugal, indicating a successful career within the country's artistic and religious institutions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Garcia Fernandes (died c. 1565) was a Portuguese Renaissance painter. Like many painters of the time, Garcia Fernandes was a pupil in the Lisbon workshop of Jorge Afonso, who was the court painter of King Manuel I. In…
