Maria auf Wolken von Engeln getragen 

Curator: This is a pencil drawing entitled "Maria auf Wolken von Engeln getragen," housed right here at the Städel Museum, crafted by Simone Cantarini. It depicts Mary being carried by angels on clouds. Editor: The preliminary feel is quite ethereal. The use of delicate pencil strokes to capture this heavenly scene imbues it with a soft, dreamlike quality. The oval format encloses the image perfectly. Curator: Indeed. The artwork gestures towards the Baroque, a period defined by drama and dynamic movement. Mary's upward gaze and outstretched arms capture a sense of celestial ascension. How do you see this piece fitting within historical and social contexts? Editor: Considering Simone Cantarini, and his era, there's an exploration of power and subservience encoded in the symbol of upward motion, especially for a woman, and this intersects directly with contemporary discourses on female agency, visibility, and the narratives through which religious symbolism has shaped these social frameworks. Curator: I am interested in the swirling clouds beneath Mary—notice the clustering and placement of the cherubic faces, each unique in its gentle gaze. The visual motif of winged creatures dates back to early antiquity; how might they function here, do you think? Editor: Historically, angels appear as messengers, bridging the divine and mortal realms, yet their perpetual youth makes them more than servants of God. It creates, I think, a symbol for unending potential—ideas, revelation, guidance—it suggests infinite and constant renewal, not for Maria only, but what she signifies to those observing this work. Curator: The way Cantarini models form with the pencilwork is superb, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely, a preliminary work, it hints at monumentality and grace. Delving into the symbolic realm reminds us how profoundly visual culture shapes spiritual and cultural identities. Curator: Examining Cantarini’s work offers a rich nexus for exploring notions of power, divinity, and representation. Editor: Yes, it has given me so much to think about.