1542
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Virgil hanging in a Basket is a 1542 by Georg Pencz, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting depicts a scene from ancient Roman literature, where the poet Virgil is suspended in a wicker basket. In the foreground, a group of people are shown, some of whom appear to be in a state of distress or alarm. The scene is set against a backdrop of a cityscape, with buildings and arches visible in the distance. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume in the composition, with strong contrasts between light and dark areas. The overall mood of the painting is one of tension and drama, as the figures in the foreground react to the suspended figure of Virgil. To learn more about the artist who created this painting, explore the work of Georg Pencz.
Georg Pencz (c. 1500 – 11 October 1550) was a German engraver, painter and printmaker. Pencz was probably born in Westheim near Bad Windsheim/Franconia. He travelled to Nuremberg in 1523 and joined Albrecht Dürer’s…
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
