The artwork titled “Assumption of the Virgin with Saints Peter Chrysologus, and Cassian,” created by Lavinia Fontana in 1584, is an oil painting on canvas representative of the Mannerism (Late Renaissance) art movement. It is a religious painting depicting a significant event from Christian theology.
The artwork vividly portrays the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, shown ascending into heaven with a powerful radiant light emanating around her. She is surrounded by angels, two of whom are seen placing a crown upon her head, signifying her queenship. Below the Virgin, two saints, Peter Chrysologus and Cassian, are depicted in reverence, looking upwards towards the miraculous scene, dressed in elaborate ecclesiastical garments. The detailed depiction of the figures, the dramatic use of light and shadow, and the ethereal clouds emphasize the divine nature of the event, characteristic of Mannerist artistry. The saints’ devoted expressions and the spiritual ambiance created by the surrounding angels encapsulate a sense of awe and piety central to the painting’s theme.
