Artwork
Elisha Watching Elijah Ascend in the Fiery Chariot
Elisha Watching Elijah Ascend in the Fiery Chariot is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist Pietro Antonio Novelli. It dates from 1752 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in brown ink: Novelli; upper center verso in brown ink: Novelli; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: 82
About this work
Overview
Pietro Antonio Novelli's 1752 drawing, Elisha Watching Elijah Ascend in the Fiery Chariot, depicts a pivotal biblical moment in dynamic pen and ink with brown wash and black chalk.
Subject & Meaning
The work illustrates the ascension of Elijah, with Elisha as a witness on the ground, and two figures ascending amidst fiery chariot wheels, conveying a scene of spiritual transformation and divine transport.
Technique & Style
Novelli employed loose, swirling lines and expressive shading to emphasize movement, smoke, and drama, prioritizing the energetic capture of action over meticulous detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1752, specific provenance details are not provided in the available information.
Context
This drawing reflects Novelli's engagement with religious themes, characteristic of 18th-century European art, though his expressive technique hints at a more personal or sketch-like interpretation.
Legacy
As part of Novelli's oeuvre, this drawing contributes to the artist's reputation for dynamic religious compositions, inviting comparison with his other works for a deeper understanding of his style and thematic explorations.
![The Ecstasy of Saint Francis [recto]](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/sebastiano-ricci--the-ecstasy-of-saint-francis-recto--5f53f9b59775e5dd-w320.webp)
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Virgin of the Immaculate Conception
The Assumption of the Virgin
Creation of the Universe
The Apotheosis of San Vitale
The Angel Appearing to Hagar and Ishmael in the Wilderness
The Stigmatization of Saint Francis
The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception
Saint Michael and the Rebel Angels
The Women at the Sepulchre with Christ of the Noli me Tangere
The Annunciation
The Sacrifice of Elijah before King Ahab- The Ecstasy of Saint Francis [recto]