Angels, Mosaic, Palatine Chapel, Palermo 1897 - 1903

John Singer Sargent rendered this watercolor, "Angels, Mosaic, Palatine Chapel, Palermo," capturing the Byzantine mosaics of the chapel. The figures are angels, winged messengers of God, a common motif in religious art. Observe how the angels hold globes or spheres. These are not mere decorations, but symbols of dominion, of the divine power extending over the cosmos. You might recall similar spheres held by emperors or rulers in Roman art, adapted and transformed here to signify spiritual authority. Consider how the motif of the winged figure itself, drawn from ancient pagan imagery, was adopted into Christian art to represent these celestial beings. It is the capacity of images to beget images, and the symbol of the sphere held by the angels speaks to this, an act of cultural memory. These symbols resonate with our subconscious understanding of power and authority, engaging us on a primal level. The angel's gestures, their wings spread wide, convey a sense of protection, triggering a deep-seated longing for safety and guidance. The wheel turns; symbols are never static. They are non-linear and resurface, evolving and accruing new meanings, in each epoch they traverse.