Rejsedagbog. Firenze 1846

This is a page from Johan Thomas Lundbye's travel journal, created in Florence using ink on paper. The writing captures Lundbye’s reflections on the church of Santa Maria Novella and its artworks. Here, Lundbye describes the Madonna "in full glory," a motif deeply rooted in religious art. This image of the Madonna, radiant and triumphant, is a powerful symbol of divine motherhood, a concept that transcends time and culture. Think back to the ancient goddesses of fertility—Isis, Demeter—these archetypes resonate in the figure of the Madonna. The recurring symbol of the Madonna touches something primal. The way that certain compositions evoke intense emotional states, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Across centuries, this image of the Madonna recurs, evolving in form but retaining its emotional core. Each era reinterprets and reinvents the symbol. Like a recurring dream, the Madonna resurfaces, transformed yet familiar, echoing through the corridors of time.