Filippo Neri wordt door een engel uit een kuil bevrijd 1630 - 1641

Luca Ciamberlano’s print depicts Filippo Neri being rescued by an angel from a pit, likely made around the early 17th century. The radiant angel, wings spread wide, extends a hand to Neri, who kneels in supplication, a halo illuminating his head. Angels have long served as potent symbols, bridging the divine and mortal realms, appearing in various guises across cultures and epochs. Consider the winged figures of ancient Assyria or the Greek Nike, each embodying a form of celestial intervention. The angel's outstretched hand echoes motifs seen in antiquity—consider the Roman gesture of adlocutio, signifying assistance or salvation. Over time, this gesture has been passed down through history, taking on new life in art, religion, and secular life. The halo, a symbol of divine grace, has roots stretching back to sun gods, evolving into a marker of sanctity in Christian iconography. This visual language engages our collective memory, stirring subconscious connections to faith, hope, and the eternal struggle between darkness and light. The psychological impact of these symbols is profound, tapping into deeply ingrained cultural narratives of rescue and redemption.