The Adoration of the Angels 1625 - 1713

Carlo Maratti etched "The Adoration of the Angels". Note the luminous halo, a symbol of divinity, encircling the Virgin Mary, drawing our eyes upwards. This isn't merely light; it's a visual echo of ancient solar deities, repurposed to signify spiritual enlightenment. Consider the gesture of adoration displayed by the angels. It’s an echo of the classical world, where similar gestures were offered to emperors and gods. This act of reverence resurfaces throughout history, from religious iconography to secular displays of fealty. This posture, ingrained in our collective memory, evokes a sense of awe and submission that transcends time. The faces, rendered with delicate lines, display intense emotion, drawing viewers into a profound connection with the divine scene. Such deep-seated, archetypal imagery taps into a wellspring of human emotion, a testament to the enduring power of symbols and their capacity to engage us on a deeply subconscious level.