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Portrait of the Evangelist Luke
Luke is clothed in robes and sandals and recalls the tradition of classical author portraits. While he sits on a cushioned bench, he lacks an accompanying desk or lectern, forcing him to balance his book on his left knee. He is somewhat awkwardly posed, for he must reach nearly behind him to dip his quill into his elaborate ink pot. Luke's symbol, the bull, reaches down over his shoulder.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Freising, Germany, ca. 865-875; Germany, 19th century; Leon Gruel and Robert Engelmann, Paris, late 19th-early 20th century [mode of acquisition unknown, no.78]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, February 19, 1917 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Germany, Freising (Place of Origin)
Measurements
7 1/16 x 4 3/4 in. (17.9 x 12.1 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1917
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.4.126V
