Assumption of the Virgin c. 18th century

Editor: So, this is Giovanni Battista Cecchi's "Assumption of the Virgin." The composition is quite striking, how all the figures are oriented. What do you see in the way the artist has structured the image? Curator: Indeed. Note how Cecchi orchestrates a visual hierarchy using light and shadow. The Virgin, bathed in divine light at the apex, contrasts with the earthly realm below, rendered in darker, more complex linework. Editor: It’s almost like two separate scenes. Curator: Precisely. This visual division underscores the theological concept of the Virgin's ascent, separating the mortal from the divine through formal means. Editor: I see it now. The structure really emphasizes that transition. Curator: The composition and contrast create that reading. A powerful use of form to convey meaning.