Diedci 

Francesco Solimena rendered this oil on canvas, Diedci, capturing the saint amidst celestial beings. Here, we see a saint in clerical garb, surrounded by cherubic figures and bathed in divine light. The raised hand and upward gaze suggest an ecstatic moment of communion with the divine. Consider the gesture of the raised hand; it is not merely a symbol of prayer but echoes across time, resonating with ancient orators and supplicants in classical art. Yet, here, the context shifts its meaning. This gesture, imbued with religious fervor, transcends mere supplication; it becomes an invocation, a reaching out to the divine. These cherubs recall the putti of Renaissance art but here, they emerge not as symbols of earthly love but of spiritual innocence. The symbolism has evolved, shaped by the religious fervor, and continues its cyclical return, forever altered yet fundamentally connected to its origins.