Saint Matthew 

This is the Limbourg brothers' illumination of Saint Matthew, a piece that belongs to the medieval book of hours, "Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry." In this image, Saint Matthew is seated, writing his gospel, in a room teeming with sacred symbolism. Consider how the Limbourg brothers, who lived in a world steeped in religious belief, depicted the apostle not merely as a historical figure, but as a conduit for divine revelation. They were commissioned by wealthy patrons, so, class is present within this piece. Note how light, often a symbol of divine presence, streams in, illuminating Matthew's work. Here we see not just an image of a saint, but a reflection on the act of writing itself as a sacred practice, deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual values of the time. It's an invitation to contemplate the power of words, and the enduring legacy of faith.