The Angel of Matthew 1400

The Angel of Matthew was painted by Andrei Rublev, sometime in the late 14th or early 15th century in Russia. Rublev worked within a very specific religious institution. The visual language of Byzantine art had been imported wholesale into Russia. This angel would have been part of an illuminated gospel. The point wasn't individual expression; rather, the gospel was seen as an object of veneration in itself. The paintings that went inside served to enhance this sense of mystery and awe. In trying to reconstruct the aims of the artist, we have to consider the role of the church in Russian society. For centuries, it was the only institution capable of sponsoring art of this kind. Close study of this artist and his context can show us how he subtly tweaked the Byzantine style to create something specifically Russian.