Since the dawn of time, sometimes through the use of alcohol or stimulants, man has sought a spiritual dimension and a state of bliss that would bring him closer to divinity. The quest for the sublime has also found expression through the creation of paintings and sculptures or the composition of poignant melodies. From the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta on the island of Torcello to the symphonic poems of Scriabin, Ramon Gener compares masterpieces of Byzantine, Baroque, and contemporary art to recount the torment and ecstasy of the West throughout the centuries.