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The Transfiguration

Ercole Setti

1580

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

Dominant colour

The Transfiguration is a 1580 ink by Ercole Setti, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ercole Setti
When & what style?: 1580 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a group of swirling, dramatic figures in the air. Some stand tall with outstretched arms, while others float or kneel below. The lines are thick and busy, creating a sense of movement and energy. The figures look like they’re part of a story, with some reaching upward and others tangled in cloth or clouds. The artist used a technique called cross-hatching to build up shadows and depth. Tiny crisscrossed lines make the figures look three-dimensional, even though it’s just ink on paper. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how this drawing trick works.