Music-Making Angels n.d.

Vittorio Maria Bigari rendered this drawing, Music-Making Angels, in sanguine. Here we observe angels amidst billowing clouds, their music-making a celestial chorus. Note particularly the angel playing the harp. This instrument, with its roots stretching back to ancient civilizations, has long symbolized harmony and divine connection. Consider how the harp appears in the psalms of David, a conduit for expressing both praise and lament. Its presence in Bigari’s drawing echoes this tradition, yet also diverges. The Baroque era, in which Bigari worked, reveled in ornamentation. The harp, too, becomes more elaborate, its form reflecting the ornate sensibilities of the time. This evolution speaks to the way cultural memory shapes and reshapes symbols, imbuing them with new layers of meaning. The image evokes a sense of awe and transcendence. This emotional power, deeply embedded in our collective psyche, ensures the symbol's continuous rebirth across centuries.