Artwork

Alexander Consecrating the Altars for the Twelve Olympian Gods

Alexander Consecrating the Altars for the Twelve Olympian Gods is a chalk drawing by the Renaissance artist Perino del Vaga. It dates from 1546 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

This painting is called Alexander Consecrating the Altars for the Twelve Olympian Gods.
It was made by Perino del Vaga between 1545 and 1547.
The artist worked during the Renaissance, a time when art and culture were changing in Europe, and this period influenced his style and themes.
You can learn more about this time and style by looking into the movement: Renaissance.

Overview

Alexander Consecrating the Altars for the Twelve Olympian Gods is a drawing by Perino del Vaga, created between 1545 and 1547. Executed in pen and brown ink with gray wash over black chalk on laid paper, the work showcases a classical subject.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts Alexander the Great in the act of consecrating altars to the Twelve Olympian Gods, evoking themes of ancient grandeur, religious devotion, and historical homage.

Technique & Style

Characterized by refined, elaborate lines and meticulous detail, the drawing exemplifies the stylistic traits of Late Renaissance Mannerism, reflecting the artist's adherence to the movement's expressive and ornate principles.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid-16th century, the drawing's provenance is not detailed here, though its creation date (circa 1545-1547) situates it within Perino del Vaga's active period as a prominent Italian painter and draughtsman.

Context

Produced during the Renaissance, a period of cultural and artistic transformation in Europe, the work reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity and the evolving artistic techniques of the time.

Artist & collection

Artist

Perino del Vaga

Piero Bonaccorsi (1501 – October 19, 1547), known as Perino (or Perin) del Vaga, was an Italian painter and draughtsman of the Late Renaissance/Mannerism.