1525
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Poet Virgil Suspended in a Basket is a 1525 by Lucas van Leyden, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This etching shows a dramatic scene with a group of people in a courtyard. A man in fancy clothes is being lowered in a basket from an upper window, while others below watch or react. One person kneels, another stands with arms crossed, and a woman leans against a pillar. The buildings have tall arches and small windows, and the whole scene is drawn in sharp, detailed lines. The basket scene likely refers to a story about the poet Virgil, but the artist packed in extra details—like the tiny landscapes in the background windows. The mix of action and quiet figures creates a busy yet focused moment. Next, check out the Renaissance movement to see how artists used stories and symbols like this.
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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