The Four Evangelists

Artist Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577 - 1640)

Datec. 1625

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions173 x 176 in. (439.4 x 447 cm)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineBequest of John Ringling, 1936

Object numberSN213

The institution of the Eucharistic sacrament at the Last Supper was recorded by the Evangelists in the Gospels. Rubens' cartoon of The Four Evangelists displays a group of figures in motion. At the far left is St. Luke with his ox, symbolic of sacrifice. This beast is traditionally an attribute of Luke, since his Gospel begins with the sacrifice of Zachariah. Next to Luke is St. Mark, his Gospel under his arm. At his side walks the lion that alludes to the Christ of the Resurrection. St. Matthew and the angel are given a central place. With one hand, the angel points to a gospel passage; with the other, he gestures heavenward, reflecting the divine inspiration with which Matthew wrote his Gospel. St. John the youngest of the group, looks up at an eagle. The eagle, thought to be able to look directly into the sun, denotes John's vision of the Apocalypse. The cup with the snake refers to poison that John drank, proving his faith.

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