The Ascension 

Paolo Veronese painted ‘The Ascension’ capturing Christ rising to heaven, as told in the Bible. A multitude of cherubic faces encircles Jesus, a visual chorus echoing the divine spectacle. The upward gesture of Christ's ascent mirrors ancient depictions of apotheosis, where emperors and heroes were shown ascending to the heavens, claiming divine status. Consider, for instance, the Roman emperors depicted on coins or triumphal arches, their outstretched arms signaling dominance and elevation. The Apostle's awestruck expressions mirror humanity's eternal quest for understanding and connection with the divine, a feeling we see expressed across cultures and epochs. It speaks to our collective memory, resonating with primal emotions of awe, wonder, and the desire to transcend earthly limitations. The image taps into a deep-seated yearning, a subconscious pull towards the infinite that transcends specific religious doctrine. This motif, like the serpent or the tree of life, is an archetypal image, its cyclical progression continually resurfacing, evolving, and adapting within new cultural landscapes.