God the Father Surrounded by Angels and the Four Animals, Symbols of the Evangelists 1700 - 1800

This anonymous drawing depicts God the Father surrounded by angels and the symbols of the Evangelists, and it’s made with pen and gray ink, gray wash, and graphite on paper. The image employs visual codes and cultural references deeply rooted in Christian theology. God the Father, a patriarchal figure, is surrounded by angels, evoking the divine hierarchy. The four animals—symbols of the Evangelists—reflect the cultural and religious landscape in which the artwork was made. Considering the institutional history of the church and its influence on artistic production, it is clear that this artwork reinforces existing social norms, presenting a conservative view of religious authority. To better understand the context, we can look at religious texts, historical accounts of the church, and studies of art patronage. These resources help reveal the complex relationship between art, religion, and society and emphasize how the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.