The Ascension of Christ 1498

Does this oil painting remind you of any famous artist? 🤔 If you said Raphael, you're definitely not wrong! 'The Ascension of Christ' was painted around 1498 by the Italian Renaissance artist Pietro Perugino. Perugino actually taught and trained the young Raphael, who went on to be known as one of the great masters of the High Renaissance. 🖌️ This painting might look busy at first glance. Let's break it down! 👇 The symmetrical composition is organised around the central figure of Christ, who dominates the upper half of the panel. He is surrounded by angels who glide among the clouds. Through the use of pastel colours and graceful poses, Perugino has built a tone of divine peace in the upper section of the painting. The angels are dressed in flowing robes and play classical instruments. This space represents heaven, while the area below represents earth. 🌍 On the grass stand the twelve apostles, alongside The Virgin Mary in the middle. She wears her iconic shades of blue and red, which symbolise purity and love. They all gaze upwards, directing our line of vision to the serene figure of Jesus. Jesus himself is depicted inside an oval shape known as a 'mandorla'. Thirteen cherubs encircle him. 👼 This work is rich in iconography, yet also includes advanced artistic techniques such as aerial perspective. This can be seen in the mountains of the background landscape. Do you notice how the colours get gradually paler to suggest that some mountains are further away? Along with Michelangelo and Leonardo, Perugino's student Raphael would later optimise the use of aerial perspective. 🏔️