The Transfiguration

Art Historical Context

This lithograph, titled *The Transfiguration* and published in 1829, reproduces a design by the English artist John Flaxman through the hand of lithographer W. Walton. Measuring just over 10 by 7 inches, the sheet is identified as a proof before letters—an early impression lacking any added text or inscriptions. Such proofs were often prized by collectors for their clarity and direct connection to the creative process. The itself reflects an important moment in printmaking history. Lithography, still relatively new in the 1820s, offered artists a way to achieve delicate lines and subtle tonal...