Cola dell'Amitrice
The Assumption of the Virgin (?)
ca. 1515
Oil on wood
Musei
Capitolini, Rome
The museum identifies this as an Assumption, but the figure on the bed,
dressed identically to the one in the sky, can only be the body of
Mary. It should be remembered that in the Golden Legend the
Assumption occurred three days after Mary "went to sleep" in the
Dormition. Thus we may wish to interpret the figure in the sky to
represent the soul of the
Virgin.
But then why are two of the standing figures in the lower half
gesturing toward the figure of Mary in the sky?
Also see detail of Mary and the
angels
More of the Dormition and Assumption
Photographed at the
site by Richard Stracke