Raising of Lazarus (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully sketched the Raising of Lazarus in ink on paper. The key motif here is the gesture of raising hands, signifying awe and divine intervention. This gesture echoes across millennia, from ancient Roman depictions of emperors to Renaissance paintings of miracles, embodying a primal response to the inexplicable. Consider, too, the echo of such gestures in ecstatic dances across cultures, hinting at humanity’s deep-seated need to express connection with the divine. The upraised hands are not simply about witnessing a miracle, but also about participating in a shared, almost subconscious understanding of the awe-inspiring power that transcends time. This moment, captured by Sully, taps into a collective memory, a visual echo resonating with the hope for resurrection. The image powerfully engages our subconscious, reminding us of the eternal human desire to overcome mortality.