Die Verklärung Christi 1870

Carl Justi’s "Die Verklärung Christi," whose dimensions are 222 mm in height, 140 mm in width, and 6 mm in thickness, presents a monochromatic study, likely a lithograph, encapsulating Raphael's famous painting. The subdued palette encourages a focus on form and composition. The image is divided into two distinct registers. The upper part shows a celestial scene, with figures bathed in ethereal light, rendered through delicate lines and soft gradations that suggest a transcendental space. The lower register is occupied by a group of figures exhibiting dramatic gestures and expressions, grounded in the material world. Justi uses a semiotic structuring to dissect and present Raphael’s narrative; the formal arrangement—the contrast between the earthly and the divine—highlights a dialectic between human experience and spiritual aspiration. This piece invites us to consider not only the religious narrative but also the formal strategies through which meaning is constructed. It underscores how graphic representation could be a powerful vehicle for art historical analysis.