Saint Mark 1413

Donatello crafted this marble statue of Saint Mark for the Arte dei Linaioli e Rigattieri, the linen and haberdasher guild of Florence. Note the open book in Mark’s left hand; he is an Evangelist, here depicted as a learned man spreading the Gospel through the written word. The lion at his feet is an ancient symbol, predating Christianity, but now understood as the symbol of Saint Mark himself. Consider the Evangelist portraits in the Book of Durrow. There, a man is likewise paired with symbolic beasts: the lion appears, though much more abstract. The echo of a pagan past is subtly woven into the image. This symbol of the lion, a powerful force of nature, becomes emblematic of Mark’s evangelism, its emotional power resonating deeply with the viewer's subconscious. The spirit of the ancient world lives on, resurfacing to imbue the image with layers of meaning.