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About This Work
A radiant Christ ascends into a cloud of brilliant light, his garments white and billowing. To his sides, Moses and Elijah float in mid-air, while below them, three apostles—Peter, James, and John—recline on the ground, shielding their eyes from the overwhelming divine brilliance. This scene captures the upper portion of Raphael's final masterpiece, focusing on the moment of divine manifestation.
The painting illustrates the Neoplatonic concept of 'theosis' or divinization, where the human form is perfected and illuminated by divine light. It reflects the Renaissance synthesis of Christian theology with metaphysical theories of light promoted by thinkers like Marsilio Ficino, who viewed light as the mediator between the material and spiritual worlds.