Sol (The Sun) 1528

“Sol (The Sun)” is a 1528 engraving by Master I.B., an artist active in the early 16th century. The print depicts the Roman sun god Sol, clothed in a long, flowing robe, and crowned with a radiant crown. He holds a staff topped with a flaming torch in his right hand and a shield resting on his left arm. Sol is often depicted as the sun god who brings light and warmth to the world and in this work, he stands in a landscape with a lion resting at his feet. This artwork is a fine example of the Renaissance practice of reimagining classical mythology through the lens of contemporary visual art.