Sketch for an altarpiece with three saints and angels 1655 - 1704

Antonio Molinari rendered this sketch for an altarpiece with pen and brown ink. Note the careful placement of saints and angels, symbols of divine intercession and spiritual purity, emerging from the heavens. Consider the recurring motif of the Madonna, central here, her veiled head signifying humility. This recalls images of veiled goddesses in antiquity, like veiled Vesta, whose cult embodied the safety of the Roman state. Over time, this symbol evolved, adapting to cultural shifts yet maintaining its essence of reverence. The artist uses dynamic gestures to convey intense emotions, and the saints' upward gazes draw us into the image, engaging us on a subconscious level. The cyclical progression of symbols is evident: sacred figures of antiquity reappear transformed in Christian art, their meanings layered and complex.