The Transfiguration by Camillo Procaccini

The Transfiguration 1587 - 1590

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print, etching

narrative-art

print

etching

mannerism

figuration

fluid art

history-painting

Dimensions: 22 1/16 x 13 5/16 in. (56.04 x 33.81 cm) (image, sheet)

"The Transfiguration," by Camillo Procaccini, is an image on a sheet now residing in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. At first glance, the ethereal scene is immediately striking, rendered with delicate lines and tonal contrasts. Shapes emerge from a lightly etched ground, defining figures caught in a moment of spiritual transcendence. Consider how the composition directs our gaze upwards, following the ascending figures towards a radiant apex. Procaccini uses line and shadow to create a sense of depth, with the foreground figures exhibiting more definition than those above, giving the impression of figures emerging through light. The arrangement and scale are part of a careful semiotic structure, designed to emphasize a hierarchy that reinforces the divine event taking place. The use of light and shadow, combined with the upwards movement, invites contemplation on themes of revelation and the convergence of the earthly and divine. The piece exists as a site where form meets content, prompting viewers to reflect on the spiritual significance of the transfiguration.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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The book of Matthew relates the story of a miracle witnessed by three of Jesus’s disciples. They saw him “transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” Suddenly the prophets Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. Then, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Terrified, the disciples fell to the ground. When it was over, they found that Jesus had returned to normal. Using stippling (lots of dots), Proccaccini portrayed Jesus as a shimmering apparition—a prefiguration of the Resurrection. Much of the image is unclear—messy compared to the crisp contrasts of professionally produced prints—but the accidents perfectly express the mystery of the otherworldly event.