Apostlen Matthæus 1686 - 1738

Hendrik Krock rendered this drawing of the Apostle Matthew in the late 17th or early 18th century. Note the angel, here appearing as a cloud, a subtle nod to divine inspiration. Matthew leans on a book, a clear symbol of his Gospel, the text he is credited with authoring. Consider the symbolic weight of representing Matthew with a book, a motif that echoes through centuries of art. From medieval illuminated manuscripts to Renaissance frescoes, the book signifies knowledge, divine wisdom, and the written word's power. This symbol isn't static; it evolves. In earlier times, it conveyed sacredness and exclusivity, whereas later, with the rise of printing, it suggested wider access to knowledge. The act of writing itself, immortalizing thoughts and beliefs, touches upon our collective desire for legacy. The emotional power of this image lies in its evocation of intellectual and spiritual authority. It's not just about seeing; it's about feeling the weight of history, the transmission of ideas, and our perennial quest for meaning. This symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.