The Ascension of Christ 1568 - 1613

Ventura Salimbeni created this drawing, The Ascension of Christ, using pen and brown ink with brown wash, heightened with white gouache, over black chalk. The composition is structured around a dramatic contrast between darkness and light, a visual dynamic that conveys a sense of divine transcendence. Notice how the lower portion of the drawing, populated by kneeling figures, is steeped in shadow, creating a grounded, earthly space. Above them, Christ ascends into a luminous, cloud-filled realm. The artist's use of light and shadow not only directs our gaze upwards but also signifies a departure from the physical world. Salimbeni destabilizes the conventional representation of ascension by emphasizing the spatial and emotional divide between the earthly and the divine. Consider the intentional use of white gouache to highlight Christ’s figure and the clouds, drawing our eyes upwards, symbolizing spiritual elevation. This strategic deployment of visual elements, the interplay of line, light, and shadow, invites contemplation on themes of transcendence and spiritual transformation.