Transfiguration (Upper Section) - Simon Thomassin

A detailed Baroque engraving by Simon Thomassin depicting the biblical Transfiguration with dramatic light and expressive figures.

This engraving by Simon Thomassin depicts the biblical Transfiguration, a moment where the divine nature of Christ is revealed to his disciples. Thomassin, a French engraver active in the early eighteenth century, demonstrates technical precision in his handling of the burin. The composition is divided between the celestial realm above and the terrestrial reaction below. In the centre, Christ ascends amidst a dense formation of clouds, his arms raised in a gesture of revelation. He is flanked by two figures, likely Moses and Elijah, who appear suspended in the air. The drapery of their garments is rendered with rhythmic, flowing lines that suggest movement and weightlessness.

Below, the disciples are shown in various states of awe and physical collapse. Their postures reflect the overwhelming nature of the vision, with some shielding their eyes from the light emanating from the central figure. The background includes subtle indications of a landscape, providing a sense of scale to the scene. Thomassin employs a range of tonal values, using cross-hatching and fine parallel lines to create depth and volume within the figures and the surrounding atmosphere. The work is characteristic of the period, which favoured dramatic lighting and theatrical arrangements of figures to convey theological narratives. The print captures the tension between the human experience of the disciples and the supernatural event occurring above them. Through his meticulous approach to texture and form, Thomassin creates a clear distinction between the ethereal light surrounding Christ and the shadowed, rocky terrain occupied by the witnesses. This piece is a representative example of the reproductive print culture of the era, which allowed for the dissemination of complex religious compositions to a wider audience.