The Birth and Infancy of St. Stephen 1465

Filippo Lippi painted the fresco of the Birth and Infancy of St. Stephen, illustrating key moments in the saint’s early life. The winged figure carrying the infant Stephen is particularly striking. This figure symbolizes divine intervention, a motif deeply rooted in ancient iconography. Consider how the Greeks depicted Hermes, the messenger god, bearing souls, or the Roman Cupid, often shown with wings, carrying messages of love and desire. Lippi cleverly transforms this classical image, imbuing it with Christian significance. Here, the angel doesn't deliver a soul or a message of love; he delivers a future martyr. This image taps into our collective memory, a potent symbol of destiny and divine protection. The angel's purposeful stride and tender hold on the infant evoke a deep sense of reassurance and hope. This seemingly simple gesture carries the weight of centuries, illustrating how artists continually draw upon and reinvent existing images.