Raphael, Transfiguration, 1518-20,detail ; Vatican Museums (2) (48758901641)

Jesus is suspended in a radiant, cloud-filled sky, his garments appearing bright white against a celestial glow. On the ground below, the apostles Peter, James, and John recoil in various states of awe and physical distress, shielding their eyes from the overwhelming divine light. To the left of Christ, Moses carries the stone tablets of the law, while Elijah holds a book to the right.

The painting serves as a visual bridge between Christian revelation and Neoplatonic philosophy, specifically the concept of the soul's ascent and the 'divine madness' described by Marsilio Ficino. The blinding light represents the 'Super-essential Light' of Pseudo-Dionysius, a key text in the Western esoteric tradition regarding the direct experience of the Godhead.