Atlas holding up the celestial globe 

Guercino painted 'Atlas holding up the celestial globe' during a period of immense religious and scientific change. Atlas, a figure from Greek mythology, was condemned to hold up the heavens for eternity. Here, Guercino depicts Atlas with a strikingly human vulnerability. We see the strain in his muscles, the downward gaze avoiding our own. His is a body burdened by a task not of his choosing. The red cloth can be interpreted as a symbol of the weight of human suffering. Atlas’s struggle also reflects the shifting relationship between humanity, science, and religion during the 17th century. The celestial globe is not merely a decorative element; it is a map of a changing cosmos, which was moving away from old religious dogma and moving closer to scientific discovery. Guercino captures a timeless expression of burden, reflecting how societal shifts affect the individual. Atlas becomes a mirror reflecting our collective struggles, and our resilience.