Plate 2: the Assumption of the Virgin 1678

Curator: We’re looking at "Plate 2: The Assumption of the Virgin," a 1678 engraving by Giuseppe Maria Mitelli, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My first impression? A vortex. All the lines lead your eye upward, from the darker figures at the base to the radiant Virgin Mary at the top. It feels incredibly dynamic. Curator: Indeed, Mitelli masterfully employs the Baroque style’s penchant for drama and movement. Note the distinct separation between the earthly and divine realms achieved through contrasting light and shadow. Semiotically, the image relies on the pervasive upward thrust to deliver the Assumption's symbolic meaning. Editor: Absolutely. And what a powerful symbol the Assumption is! Throughout history, it's served as a testament to hope and redemption. Here, Mitelli's rendering resonates deeply with the idea of earthly suffering transcended by divine grace, reflected in the upturned faces below. The open tomb serves as a clear allusion to the absence of decay. Curator: Speaking to construction, notice the dense cross-hatching which gives form to the heavy garments. That’s what is creating that effect. We also see sharp lines and contrasting planes suggesting a highly sophisticated level of engagement with representational rendering techniques. Editor: Beyond technique, the composition teems with rich iconographic cues. Consider the array of witnesses gathered around the tomb. Their gestures convey a mix of awe, wonder, and reverence – an invitation to viewers across centuries to share in that collective emotional experience. Curator: Their arrangement also contributes to the compositional rhythm, each figure carefully placed to guide the eye and create a balanced yet dynamic tableau. And yet the light itself also behaves symbolically in much of baroque painting from that time; as in Bernini for example, there are narrative implications to its use that tie into the thematics and symbolism of light that has precedent back to late antiquity. Editor: That visual language really reinforces the spiritual message. Curator: It's a testament to how formal structure can enhance thematic resonance, even across generations. Editor: Indeed. Pondering this image underscores how symbols evolve while core human hopes endure.