Souls Returning to their Spheres 1807

Curator: This is John Flaxman’s drawing, “Souls Returning to their Spheres,” currently residing in the Tate Collections. It's a delicate line drawing. Editor: It evokes a sense of ethereal lightness, doesn't it? Those elongated figures and the minimal lines suggest souls floating upwards. Curator: Flaxman, working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was deeply involved in Neoclassical aesthetics. This piece seems rooted in the era's fascination with the ideal and the spiritual. Editor: Absolutely, the imagery is compelling. The return, the ascent, is mirrored by the symbolic use of spheres and clouds, connoting heavenly realms and the journey of the soul after life. Curator: What I find particularly interesting is how Flaxman navigates the public appetite for spiritual themes, while embedding it within a classical framework. Editor: It's a thoughtful blend, prompting reflection on life's trajectory. Curator: Indeed, the drawing captures a powerful and universal longing.