Saint Matthew, from "Christ and the Apostles" 1543 - 1553

Andrea Schiavone etched "Saint Matthew" in the 16th century. Matthew, draped in classical robes, embodies a fusion of the ancient world and Christian ethos characteristic of Renaissance art. The drapery, reminiscent of Roman sculpture, cloaks the figure, yet it is the gesture of gathering the cloak that speaks volumes. This motif echoes through time, from antiquity where orators adjusted their togas, signifying preparation for discourse, to religious art, where the gesture evolved to denote divine inspiration. Consider the "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" by Bernini. Though centuries apart, the swirling drapery and emotional intensity resonate, revealing how such motifs transcend epochs, carrying subconscious, collective memories. The gesture, like a word passed through generations, accrues new inflections, embodying the cyclical nature of cultural expression. It reminds us of how symbols are never truly still; instead, they resurface, transformed and renewed, in the ever-flowing river of history.