Altaar met een schilderij van de Hemelvaart van Maria c. 1658 - 1670

This is Jean Lepautre's etching of an altar with the Assumption of Mary. The altar is adorned with a wealth of symbols speaking to the divine. Dominating the scene is Mary’s ascent to heaven, a motif echoing ancient apotheoses, where mortals rise to godhood. Above, the Holy Spirit appears as a dove, encircled by radiant light. The dove, a symbol of peace and purity, has roots stretching back to ancient Near Eastern myths, where birds often represented souls or divine messengers. This symbol merges with Christian theology to represent divine grace. Note how Mary is lifted by angels, beings that bridge the divine and mortal realms. Similar winged figures appear in ancient Assyrian reliefs and Greek mythology, always mediating between different worlds. The visual language of ascension—figures rising, surrounded by light—taps into a deep, primal desire for transcendence. It's a symbolic journey, resonating with our collective longing for spiritual liberation. This symbol transcends epochs, continually resurfacing and evolving.