Sketch for ‘The Ascension’ c. 1782

Curator: Here we have Benjamin West's "Sketch for 'The Ascension'," currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: The upward surge of figures gives it a deeply emotive and spiritual feeling. The muted palette only heightens this ethereal quality. Curator: Precisely, note the compositional balance—the ascending Christ figure countered by the mass of earthly witnesses. The implied lines guide the eye upwards. Editor: And the iconography is rich, isn't it? The upward gaze, the gestures of awe—all drawing on centuries of representing divine events. Even the clouds bear symbolic weight. Curator: Indeed, the clouds are not merely atmospheric; they are structural, defining the visual plane and separating the earthly from the divine, enhancing the thematic resonance. Editor: The semi-nude, Greco-Roman figure of Christ is interesting. The divine hero, a visual trope carried over from classicism to give Him an established pedigree. Curator: It's intriguing how West merges Neoclassical form with such a traditionally Christian subject. Editor: It's a deeply spiritual sketch, even in its unfinished state. Curator: The formal elements truly amplify its symbolic power.