Vision of Saint Bruno c. 1660

Pier Francesco Mola created this red chalk drawing titled 'Vision of Saint Bruno'. Saint Bruno is depicted beneath a tree with his hands raised up in prayer or astonishment as he receives a divine vision. Note the raised hands, a gesture we see echoed through the ages—from ancient Roman orators to the ecstatic saints of the Baroque. This motif, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, speaks to a primal yearning for connection with the divine, a visual language of supplication and revelation. Consider how the ancients used the same gesture to invoke their gods, a practice that resonates even now, though its meaning has subtly shifted to express religious devotion. The image evokes a powerful, almost visceral response, tapping into our shared emotional reservoir. It is through this non-linear, cyclical progression that symbols like raised hands resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across different historical contexts.