Figure Seen from behind Praying to an Apparition of a Head with Lions Below 

John Flaxman created this drawing with graphite on paper, presenting a scene of spiritual supplication. Note how the composition is organized within an almost circular frame, softening the edges of the scene. Flaxman uses line to create a visionary, layered effect. A figure in the foreground, rendered with delicate strokes, kneels in prayer. Above, a head emerges, an apparition that seems both ethereal and imposing. Below, the heads of lions introduce a symbolic presence, possibly representing strength or guardianship. The drawing's structure uses a semiotic interplay between the human and the divine. The softness of the graphite lends a dreamlike quality, obscuring fixed meanings and inviting interpretation. The piece functions not just as a religious scene but as an exploration of the human quest for meaning.