Dedalus Burying Icarus c. 1605

Carlo Saraceni rendered this ink drawing, Dedalus Burying Icarus, capturing a poignant moment steeped in Greek mythology. Here we witness the anguished father, Dedalus, cradling his fallen son, Icarus, after his fatal flight too close to the sun. This motif of the mourning father echoes across epochs. We see it again and again, for example in the Pietà, where Mary cradles the body of Christ. These images tap into a deep, primal connection, an eternal echo of loss that resonates within us. The fall of Icarus has recurred throughout art history. Its psychological weight serves as a warning against hubris, the danger of unchecked ambition, and the pain of loss. Even today, this echoes in our subconscious, urging caution and humility, reminding us that while we might not all have a literal pair of wings, sometimes our dreams can take us too high.