Apotheose van een telg van een adellijk Napolitaans geslacht before 1728

Paolo De Matteis created this drawing, Apotheosis of a scion of a noble Neapolitan family, with pen and brush in grey, sometime between 1662 and 1728. The eye is immediately drawn upward, guided by the swirling clouds and rising figures, to a celestial gathering bathed in divine light. De Matteis masterfully uses chiaroscuro—the interplay of light and shadow—to create depth and drama. The composition, arranged in a dynamic pyramid, is populated with allegorical figures, each meticulously rendered with delicate lines and subtle gradations of tone. The drawing’s visual structure suggests a world ordered by divine will and social hierarchy. It uses a symbolic language which elevates the subject through classical and Christian imageries. This structured ascent mirrors the era’s preoccupation with power and status. The artwork embodies a Baroque sensibility and a philosophical engagement with transcendence. Consider how the artist uses form to celebrate earthly power through spiritual glorification. What fixed meanings and values are evident, and how does the piece communicate ideas about perception and representation?