Adoration 1545 - 1570

Giulio Bonasone etched this "Adoration" sometime in the 16th century. The divine child radiates light, a motif echoing the halo found in countless religious artworks. But notice how Bonasone bathes the infant in a light that eclipses even that of the halo. This light evokes the ancient Roman concept of 'Genius', the divine spark within each individual, here amplified in the newborn Christ. The pose of adoration, figures bowed in reverence, can be traced back to ancient Near Eastern art, reappearing in Roman imperial imagery, and then, transformed, in Christian art. Consider, too, the ruined architecture. A motif of decay and rebirth, where something new emerges from the ruins of the old. This motif touches something deep within us; the subconscious knowledge that civilizations rise and fall, yet life persists. It is this cyclical nature of existence that Bonasone masterfully captures, making the artwork resonate with us, even today.