Image of Transfiguration of Jesus by Raphael
Introduction
This is an image of the transfiguration of Jesus done by Raphael and commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de Medici. The renaissance period was characterized by paintings done by great artists, who painted images to represent either religious or political events that occurred in the past. Some of the photos, however, were done out of imagination and not about past occurrences. Their work of painting was accorded a lot of reverence since they carried heavy meaning. The above image is a religious one subdivided into two sections; one part, which is elevated, shows the transfiguration of Jesus, while the one below shows the apostles trying to heal a boy possessed by the evil spirit (Blicharz, 2020). Jesus is surrounded by two figures presumed to be Moses and Elijah, as indicated in the Bible; they were representing law and the old prophets of Yahweh, respectively. The transfiguration of Jesus occurred before His crucifixion, and it was meant to show Heavenly glory when he finally assumed His kingdom power.
Thesis
During the transfiguration, several occasions took place within a span of seconds, like Jesus shining with a dazzling light to the three disciples falling asleep in the midst of prayers only to be awoken by light. The image, therefore, carries religious significance, especially for Christians, for they believe in Jesus as the son of God who came to liberate human beings from the bondage of sins. Everything happening in the image has a significant meaning to Christians, so it is essential to analyze it for non-Christian viewers. As we go through the analysis, we will be trying to look at the implication of the right light shining from the middle figure to those below him and its significance. With the idea of transfiguration in mind, we will look at the events occurring in the image and their possible meaning.
Discussion
The first thing to note in the image is that the bright lighting illuminating the centre figure is assumed to be Jesus.; the light is shining on everybody in the image. The light here may be an interpretation of hope for the future or an end to a difficult situation. The darkness surrounding them makes a white cloud with more evidence behind them. Those whom the light shines on are able to get new energy to soldier on. The center image is also dressed in dazzling white, which symbolizes purity. His hands are raised to either connote surrender or a way of greeting people, especially if it is an immense multitude. The three men in the upper part of the image are barefooted, and this might be a way of taking us back to an era where there were no shoes and people walked on their bear feet; this, however, could be a show of trust with where they are standing, a pure place with no contaminations or thorns to prick their feet. The men on both sides, who appear to be a bit elderly, are shaped in angelic figures than the centre image. They are donned greyish clothes; one is seen holding something that looks like a book while the other has his hands wrapped together (Blicharz, 2020).
Below the three men are three more people who look like they are sleeping, but light beaming from above them makes it difficult for them to continue their sleep. Two of them are actually covering their faces in a way that suggests that the light is very bright for their eyes to bear. One of them, who looks like a lady, is wearing a pink garment, while the next one has a bright yellow and grey robe. The other one, who has his head facing down, is dressed in grey robes. These three are lying on a surface above the multitude below them, which could indicate their high status in society as it is the norm to give people who are deemed to be more powerful front-sitting positions in a gathering. There are two more people at the edge of the elevated surface; one has his hands clasped together like he is praying, while the other has his hands spread out as if he is wondering what is happening around him. The color of their clothes to be brown, but with the bright light shining on them, it could be an illumination of a different color. The crowd below them seems to be unusual; there are two women, one kneeling down and the other holding a young boy lifting his hand up. There is also a man behind the small boy who is holding him. The rest of the crowd seems unsettled and in a helter-skelter move. More interestingly, the people in this image section seem to have directed all their attention to the boy and the two women. The woman kneeling down may imply that she is in need and is here to seek help from the men, and the look in the gestures of these men, the little boy, seems to be the reason why the woman is kneeling down. They are cast under the bright light shining from the man in white clothes (Blicharz, 2020).
Conclusion
One image may give a different impression depending on the angle and perception with which one views it with; this might also bring in varied ideas about the same image due to differences in thoughts of the person analyzing the image. While the above image has a Biblical meaning, several worldly meanings can also be deduced from it. From political, socio-cultural, and even economic perspectives, the image could be branded with a different meaning. However, despite the different interpretations that various people might hold about the image, some things stand out and remain the same, including color, height, length, age, and material. Therefore, analyzing an image despite having constant cues depends on where the interpreter stands.
Reference
Blicharz, Mary. “The Transfiguration Painting by Raphael.” Inside The Vatican Pilgrimages, 6 Aug. 2020, insidethevaticanpilgrimages.com/the-transfiguration-painting-by-Raphael/.
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