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The Ascension

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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This panel, which comes from an altarpiece made for the church of San Pier Maggiore in Florence, belongs to a sequence of narrative scenes showing events from Christ’s birth, the Resurrection and Ascension. These sat above the three panels of the main tier showing the coronation of the Virgin surrounded by adoring saints.

Christ is shown ascending to heaven, and his movement and the radiance of his resurrected body are expressed by the golden rays that he emanates. Incised into the gold-leaf background, these would have glimmered in the church’s candlelight, making the image appear all the more extraordinary. He is accompanied by angels playing musical instruments, a detail that encouraged the viewer to imagine the sounds of the heavenly music.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

The Ascension

Date

1370-1

Medium

Tempera on poplar

Measurements

H 95 x W 49 cm

Accession number

NG577

Acquisition method

Bought, 1857

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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