Jacob's dream c. 1560 - 1561

Giovanni Battista Naldini rendered Jacob's dream in ink, capturing a profound biblical moment. Here, we see Jacob asleep, dreaming of a ladder stretching to heaven, teeming with angels. This ladder is not merely a physical structure; it is a symbol deeply rooted in human consciousness. It appears across cultures, representing the connection between the earthly and the divine, the conscious and the unconscious. We find echoes of it in ancient Mesopotamian ziggurats and in the spiritual practices of various cultures where ascending to higher planes of existence is a central theme. Consider, for example, the Tower of Babel, also a potent symbol of humanity’s attempt to reach the heavens. While it represents hubris and failure, it shares with Jacob’s ladder the aspiration to bridge the gap between human and divine realms. The image of angels is an embodiment of our deepest hopes and fears, reflecting our eternal quest for meaning and connection to something beyond ourselves. Symbols such as the ladder have a powerful, non-linear way of recurring throughout history, transforming yet retaining their fundamental impact on the human psyche.