St. Luke, seated on a cloud with an open book in both hands, a bull lying at his feet, from a series of the four evangelists after Agostino Veneziano, which are in turn after Giulio Romano 1518

This anonymous print of Saint Luke is from a series of the four evangelists. It was made after Agostino Veneziano, who in turn, worked after Giulio Romano. It presents Luke, traditionally believed to be the author of the third Gospel and the Book of Acts, seated on a cloud with a bull at his feet, his symbolic animal. We can see the saint holding an open book, deep in contemplation. The image of the evangelist is not simply a religious depiction, but also reflects the cultural and intellectual values of the Renaissance, when humanist scholarship and classical learning were intertwined with Christian faith. The choice to represent Luke with a bull can be traced back to early Christian art, solidifying his identity and role within the religious narrative. As you stand before this image, consider the ways in which cultural symbols and artistic interpretations shape our understanding of identity, both historically and in the present day.