1554
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
An Omen of Augustus's Future Greatness is a 1554 ink by Giulio Bonasone, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a chaotic scene with people in dramatic poses. In the center, a group of figures—some kneeling, others reaching upward—gathers around a woman lying on the ground. Above them, a temple-like structure stands, with a chariot pulled by winged horses flying in the sky. Trees and ruins fill the background, and the whole scene is printed in blue and black lines. The flying chariot is a key detail—it’s a common symbol for divine favor or prophecy in Renaissance art. This image was meant to show a special event linked to a powerful leader’s future. Next, check out how this work uses engraving.
Giulio Bonasone (c. 1498 – after 1574) (or Giulio de Antonio Buonasone or Julio Bonoso) was an Italian painter and engraver born in Bologna. He possibly studied painting under Lorenzo Sabbatini, and painted a Purgatory…
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