Filippo Neri in aanbidding voor Maria en Kind 1651 - 1680

Charles de La Haye created this print depicting Filippo Neri in adoration of the Virgin and Child, a scene brimming with religious symbolism. Notice the upward gaze and clasped hands of Filippo Neri, mirrored across centuries in countless images of supplication. This posture, echoing ancient Roman gestures of piety, resurfaces during the Renaissance. The surrounding cherubs and radiant light are not merely decorative. They’re potent symbols, carrying the divine light, and their presence aims to transport the viewer into a state of spiritual ecstasy. Consider the Virgin Mary, enthroned on clouds, reminiscent of ancient goddesses elevated to the heavens. This ascent embodies a longing for transcendence, a motif deeply embedded in our collective unconscious. The Madonna and Child motif transcends mere representation, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. These symbols, passed down through history, tap into our deepest emotions. They are the echoes of a collective memory, a shared human experience of yearning for the divine.