When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold,* two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky. Acts 1:9-11
Where is Jesus now? After his earthly ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and then 40 more days, He ascended into heaven where He is even now. His disciples saw it… He was talking with them and then a great cloud took Him up into heaven out of sight. Imagine their confusion! They were staring at the sky when the angels asked them, “Why are you still looking up there? He will be back!”
Giotto paints this scene when Western art and culture were on the brink of huge changes from the Medieval/Byzantine era to the Renaissance era. In fact, he is often considered the forerunner of the Italian Renaissance. Medieval art is characterized by flatness and symbolism, and there is some of that here. The space is pretty compressed, like a stage, and the halos and oval-shaped mandorla around Christ are very Medieval symbols of holiness. But Giotto paves the way for the Renaissance by making his figures appear round and real! Their clothes have weight and drape around them. Their faces are individualized, making them feel like a real group of real people. There is even a sense of movement in the upward-rushing sky, the wispiness of the cloud carrying Christ, and of course, the movement in the arms and heads. The disciples and Mary look up, the angels talking to them point up, and the heavenly throng greeting Christ in the sky wave their arms in worship and welcome. Christ too is looking up and raising His arms toward heaven. Imagine how excited He is to sit down next to His Father! You can see it on His face. After His intense labor on earth, He has completed the work of salvation and now intercedes for us and prepares mansions and glories for His saints. He waits with eager excitement for us all to join Him! And likewise, we wait for the day that He will come back the same way He went up, and take us with Him. He will judge the earth and set up the New Heavens and New Earth.
Painting found in Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy.
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