Grafmonument van Alfonso de Castilla in de Cartuja de Miraflores nabij Burgos 1856 - 1863

This photograph by Juan Laurent captures the tomb of Alfonso de Castilla in the Cartuja de Miraflores, near Burgos. The tomb's elaborate ornamentation is rich with Christian symbolism, and at the center, Alfonso is captured in perpetual prayer. This posture—hands clasped, eyes uplifted—reappears across epochs, echoing in the devotional figures of ancient votive statues. Think of the praying figures from Sumer, their wide eyes directed to the heavens. The upward gaze, here, transcends mere piety. It's a primal yearning, a reaching for transcendence that speaks to our deepest anxieties about mortality. In the Renaissance, this gesture evolved, appearing in portraits of donors, their faces reflecting a blend of humility and hope. The tomb and its symbols offer a profound commentary on memory, faith, and the enduring human quest for meaning beyond earthly existence.