Johannes de Evangelist 1537 - 1585

Luca Cambiaso created this pen and brown ink drawing of Saint John the Evangelist, though its exact date remains unknown, sometime during his career in 16th-century Italy. Cambiaso lived and worked during a time when the Catholic Church wielded considerable power, setting standards for religious art. Cambiaso’s depiction of St. John is fascinating because it represents a divergence from traditional representations. Instead of an idealized figure, we see a more human, relatable St. John, marked by a certain humility. Here, he is depicted not as a divine being, but as a scholar, his humanity emphasized through the soft lines of the sketch. The sketch could be seen as an early example of humanizing religious figures, inviting viewers to connect with them on a more personal level. This approach reflects a shift toward valuing individual experience, and marks a significant development in the history of art.