Saint Mark c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an engraving called "Saint Mark" by an anonymous artist. It depicts the saint, pen in hand, seemingly in deep thought. There's a somber mood to the piece, a quiet intensity. What do you see in it? Curator: It whispers to me of diligence, doesn't it? The saint hunched over his work, utterly absorbed. Notice the lion lurking in the background, Mark's traditional symbol. It is almost as if he is an author with a demanding editor looking over his shoulder! What a task to write something so important. I wonder if he ever felt that he wasn't up to it. Editor: That's a lovely way to put it. I hadn't considered the pressure he might have felt. Curator: Perhaps that's why he needed glasses. Editor: That is a good point, and it does make me appreciate the work even more.