De evangelist Lucas met os 1712 - 1786

This print of Saint Luke was created by Giovanni Marco Pitteri. It presents a study in contrasts, both tonal and textural. The subject’s soft, shaded face emerges from a densely worked background, creating a play of light and shadow that draws the eye. Look closely at how the lines are deployed. The face is rendered with delicate hatching, suggesting a gentle, contemplative spirit, while the background uses a denser, more chaotic network of lines to evoke depth and mystery. The gaze is directed downwards towards his hands. What we are seeing here is a visual encoding of the saint's role as both a scribe and a spiritual figure. The formal elements of the artwork—the stark contrast, the detailed rendering of the face against the abstract background—speak to the complex interplay between the material and the divine.