Poet Virgil Suspended in a Basket 1525

This engraving, "Poet Virgil Suspended in a Basket," by Lucas van Leyden, depicts the Roman poet Virgil being lowered into a basket by a group of people. The work, completed in 1525, is notable for its detailed depiction of figures and its use of light and shadow. It draws upon the legend of Virgil's death, where he was suspended in a basket to seek a magical inscription. The engraving shows the scene with a sense of drama and tension, as the figure of Virgil is suspended in the air, surrounded by the curious gazes of onlookers. The engraving demonstrates van Leyden’s remarkable skill in rendering the details of the figures, their clothes and the setting with realistic precision.