Artwork
The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Virgil Solis. It dates from 1538 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Transfiguration is a drawing created by Virgil Solis, a German draughtsman and printmaker, in 1538. It is executed in pen and black and violet ink on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts the biblical scene of the Transfiguration, showing Jesus Christ standing on a cloud with his arms outstretched, surrounded by a group of people looking up at him in awe and prayer.
Technique & Style
Solis used a range of lines and shading to create depth and texture, with soft, feathery lines for the cloud and intricate folds for the robes, exemplifying the Renaissance style with its classical motifs and focus on human emotion.
Artist & collection
Artist
Virgil Solis or Virgilius Solis (1514 – 1 August 1562), a member of a prolific family of artists, was a German draughtsman and printmaker in engraving, etching and woodcut who worked in his native city of Nuremberg.
