Santa Maria Assunta Di Carignano 1620

Giulio Cesare Procaccini created the painting Santa Maria Assunta Di Carignano around the early 17th century. Procaccini painted in an era deeply influenced by religious fervor and the Counter-Reformation, which profoundly shaped artistic expression. In this piece, Mary is at the center. She is the powerful, nurturing mother, surrounded by a heavenly court of angels. To either side of her are male figures, who represent both religious authority and earthly devotion, which is in line with the traditional gender roles reinforced by the Church. The use of light emphasizes the divinity and purity associated with Mary. Yet there is something deeply human about the way Procaccini captures Mary’s tenderness. The painting invites viewers to reflect on the spiritual and emotional dimensions of religious faith. It serves as a mirror to the values and beliefs of its time. It’s an emotional and personal connection to the divine that speaks to our own sense of longing and hope.