Gekroonde heilige op een wagen c. 1579 - 1622

Geronima Cagnaccia Parasole created this print, titled 'Crowned Saint in a Chariot,' using an unspecified method. At its heart, the image depicts an ascent, rich with symbols of divine elevation. The crowned figure in the chariot, pulled by spirited horses, immediately brings to mind similar triumphal entries of emperors and gods from antiquity. Consider the Roman emperors who paraded through the city after a victory, a motif adopted and adapted throughout the Renaissance in art and festivals. Yet here, the ascent is not earthly, but heavenly, heralded by a host of angels. This motif carries echoes of Elijah's fiery chariot, suggesting a divine intervention, a transport to a higher plane. The act of crowning signifies a culmination, the attainment of ultimate glory. This gesture, repeated across cultures, from ancient kings to the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven, reflects our enduring desire for recognition, a marking of the soul’s triumph over worldly trials. The image taps into this deep-seated longing, engaging us in a visual narrative of ascension and apotheosis.