St. Alexis 1649

Claude Mellan’s engraving portrays Saint Alexis, recumbent, a cross emblazoned on his chest, set against the stark geometry of stone steps, bathed in celestial light. The cross, a symbol of sacrifice and redemption, dominates the composition, immediately situating Alexis within a narrative of Christian devotion. Consider the motif of the saint's body, seemingly lifeless on the steps. This image evokes the classical trope of the hero in repose, a visual echo of figures like Endymion, slumbering eternally. Yet, here, it is transformed. The classical ideal of heroic rest is imbued with Christian humility and suffering. The motif of the sleeping figure recurs throughout art history – a powerful expression of vulnerability and transition. Think of Caravaggio’s ‘Sleeping Cupid’ from 1608. The unconscious pull of these images resides in our own experiences of rest, vulnerability, and mortality. The symbol transcends time, and is reshaped, re-emerging in varied forms across epochs, testifying to the enduring power of visual symbols and their profound impact on our collective psyche.