The Assumption of the Virgin (detail) 1530

This detail of Correggio's fresco "The Assumption of the Virgin," painted on the dome of Parma's Cathedral, shows a jubilant orchestra of angels. They carry instruments of praise: trumpets, tambourines, symbols of celestial celebration, and reflect the divine joy accompanying the Virgin Mary's ascent to heaven. These musical angels find echoes in earlier depictions of heavenly hosts, such as those in medieval illuminated manuscripts, where music accompanies sacred events. In ancient Roman art, instruments were also used in triumphal processions, associating music with power and divinity. The motif of musical cherubs recurs throughout art history, each time imbued with the cultural and emotional nuances of its era. This symphony is not just a feast for the eyes but also evokes a deep, primal response. Music, even depicted visually, touches our subconscious, stirring feelings of awe and spiritual elevation. Here, Correggio masterfully uses these recurring motifs to draw us into the ecstasy of the divine, a cycle of symbolic representation that continues to resonate across centuries.