St. Luke the Evangelist

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St. Luke the Evangelist
Raffaello Santi ?
ca. 1515

A youthful St Luke the Evangelist, depicted in an elongated Mannerist posture and illuminated by light, is portrayed against a refined greenish sfumato architectural landscape. He holds a quill pen and the Gospel in his hands, his gaze is turned to the sky, while his attribute is beside him: an ox, a symbol of sacrifice. The light slides across Luke's pale pink gown to blaze up in the bright glow of his yellow mantle with gentle, pliant large folds. The Classical type of young man indicates that the painting was made on the model of Raphael, but the use of colours and light, however, is akin to North Italian Mannerism.