A close-up of the mural at the Vatican Museums’ Gallery of Candelabra.
“The angel and the farmer” by Ludovico Seitz, 1899.
The angel is emphasizing that a worker’s labor is in naught if there is no sunlight. Grace makes the handiwork of the spirit visible, just as sunshine makes the tangible creations of man.
Not only is Seitz’s painting technique brilliant, but he also gives the angel a “incredible lightness of being” that makes it appear buoyant, joyful, androgynous, ethereal, and yet tangible—simply put, wonderful.
The Latin motto appears behind the angel:
“GRATIA DEI ET CONTENTIONE VOLUNTATIS EXCELLENTIAM VIRTUTIS ADIPISCIMUR”
“With the grace of God and the effort of the will we obtain the excellence of virtue”
The thousands of visitors who daily visit the Sistine Chapel necessarily cross the gallery of candelabra that occupies the entire wing that is located on the western side of the Vatican Museums. They flow quickly and in organized groups of tourists, which hardly allows them to focus on looking at the paintings and decorations that adorn the times of the aforementioned gallery. Restored for a few years it is a show not to be missed.
