The Apostles Receive their Mission 1460

Jean Fouquet painted this illumination, ‘The Apostles Receive their Mission,’ sometime in the 15th century. Here, radiant light pours down from above, symbolizing divine inspiration, as the twelve apostles gather. Consider the two winged putti, each bearing a shield, positioned above this scene. In antiquity, winged figures such as these often represented victory or divine messengers. Medieval iconography then imbued them with Christian significance, transforming them into angelic beings, guardians, and symbols of spiritual guidance. This motif—of winged figures bearing shields or emblems—reappears across centuries. It evolves with each cultural shift. In Renaissance art, we see them adorning family crests, emblems of power. Observe how Fouquet uses color to elicit emotional response. The vibrant reds and blues are not merely decorative, but serve to elevate the scene's spiritual intensity. Such persistent visual patterns across cultures suggest an archetypal language, a collective memory of symbols that speak to our subconscious, transcending time.