1538
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Astrologia (Astrology) is a 1538 ink by Virgil Solis, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a busy sky scene with swirling clouds and winged figures. At the center, a woman holds a globe while a cherub points upward. Below, a small courtyard has a fountain and a building with arched windows. The word "ASTROLOGIA" is printed at the top. The artist packed details into the sky—stars, zodiac symbols, and celestial tools. This was a way to show how people once linked the stars to human life. Want to see more? Check out the technique: engraving.
Virgil Solis or Virgilius Solis (1514 – 1 August 1562), a member of a prolific family of artists, was a German draughtsman and printmaker in engraving, etching and woodcut who worked in his native city of Nuremberg.
See the richer artist page
