Astolfo kehrt, von Johannes dem Evangelist geführt, mit dem Verstande Rolands vom Mond zurück c. 1823

This 1823 drawing by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld depicts a scene from the epic poem “Orlando Furioso” by Ludovico Ariosto. The work, titled “Astolfo kehrt, von Johannes dem Evangelist geführt, mit dem Verstande Rolands vom Mond zurück,” translates to “Astolfo Returns, Led by John the Evangelist, with Roland’s Mind Back from the Moon.” It portrays the knight Astolfo’s journey to the moon to retrieve Roland’s lost mind, guided by the Evangelist John, and emphasizes the mystical and allegorical aspects of the poem. It is currently housed in the Städel Museum.