St. Matthew and the angel 

Juan Bautista Maíno painted Saint Matthew and the angel with oil on canvas. Observe how Matthew, cloaked in earth tones, holds a quill, poised to transcribe divine wisdom whispered by the angel. This motif of divine inspiration is an ancient one. We see echoes of it in classical muses guiding poets, their breath embodying creative impulse. The angel is youthful, a symbol of divine purity. His presence, hovering intimately close, suggests a profound, almost symbiotic relationship between the human and the divine. Consider how the quill, an instrument of writing, becomes a conduit for revelation. It symbolizes the transformation of ethereal thought into tangible form, much like the hermetic quest for transmutation. This act of writing, guided by the angel, transcends mere transcription; it embodies the mystical process of imbuing the earthly with the celestial. The emotional intensity captured here engages the viewer, resonating with our own deep-seated yearning for understanding and inspiration. This constant return of images suggests our perpetual, subconscious striving to grasp the intangible.