Male Saint (an Apostle?) Standing on a Pedestal with Arms Extended (recto); Standing or Kneeling Male Saint (verso) 1695 - 1705

Pedro Duque Cornejo sketched this male saint with pen and brown ink in the 18th century. Observe the figure, standing on a pedestal with arms outstretched, a gesture laden with meaning. This orant position, reaching towards the heavens, echoes across millennia, from ancient Roman depictions of piety to early Christian art where it symbolized prayer and divine connection. Think of the frescoes in the Roman catacombs, where early believers, seeking solace and salvation, adopted this posture. The raised arms are not merely physical, but a conduit for spiritual energy, a reaching out to the divine that resonates with our deepest longings. This symbolic gesture transcends its original religious context; it reappears in secular art, representing supplication, hope, or even despair. It is a visual echo of humanity's eternal quest for meaning, and its subconscious desire for transcendental experience. The motif mutates, yet its essence remains.