Reading Saint Augustine’s Confessions is a moving experience. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, Augustine captures in words the longings of the human heart. In this artwork by Philippe de Champaign’s painting of the saint, Augustine holds a flaming heart, symbol of his ardent desire to unlock the mysteries of knowledge and wisdom. Augustine steps on overturned books, holds a quill in one hand, and gazes toward a vision of the word “veritas,” or truth.
