The Transfiguration (after Perugino)
William Shakespeare Burton (London 1824 - London 1916)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1882
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1468 x 1343 mm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 27418
Caption
The Transfiguration of Christ is a biblical miracle described in the gospels of the New Testament (Matthew 17: 1-9, Mark 9:2-8 and Luke 9:28-36) when Jesus Christ and three of his apostles, Peter, James and John, go to a mountain to pray. He begins to shine with bright rays of light and the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah appear next to him. It differs from other miracles in that it happens to Christ himself. The episode is regarded as a preview and an anticipation of the Resurrection, after Christ has risen from the dead. The feast day of the event is celebrated by the Christian church on the 6th August.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, The Transfiguration (after Perugino) by William Shakespeare Burton (London 1824 - London 1916), 1882. Six figures arranged three above three, with central figure of Christ. At centre top Christ standing, on either side bearded, kneeling prophets, and three apostles seated below. Faded colouring in blues and browns, all figures with black haloes. Written in black beside Christ, HIC EST FILIUS MEUS DILECTUS (God the Father at the Transfiguration of Christ, 'Behold my beloved son') and below his feet, BONUM EST NOS HIC ESSE (Peter's words: 'It is good for us to be here'). A very Victorian rendering after Perugino's fresco of 1498 in Collegio del Cambio, Perugia.
Provenance
Purchased by the National Trust from the estate of the late George Richard Lawley Gibbs, 2nd Lord Wraxall (1928 – 2001) with the assistance of the NHMF and donations from members and supporters in 2002
Credit line
Tyntesfield, The Gibbs Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: In paint on back of stretcher, COPY / by / W.S.BURTON / 1882 /ORIGINAL PICTURE / BY / PIETRO PERUGINO.
Makers and roles
William Shakespeare Burton (London 1824 - London 1916), publisher after Pietro Perugino (Città della Pieve c.1450 – Fontignano 1523), publisher