De evangelist Lucas met os 1712 - 1786

Curator: Welcome. Today we are looking at "De evangelist Lucas met os," or Saint Luke with an Ox, an engraving dating from the 18th century by Giovanni Marco Pitteri. Editor: Well, immediately it strikes me as rather somber. The use of shadow gives it a very contemplative, almost melancholic mood. Like he’s not just writing, but reflecting. Curator: Indeed. Saint Luke is almost always depicted with an ox or bull. The ox, in early Christian symbolism, represents sacrifice, service, and strength. Editor: So, the gentle curve of the ox's horn sort of peeking out from behind him... It's subtle, but powerful. It anchors him, tells us this isn’t just some dude writing, right? Curator: Precisely. Luke’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus's sacrificial ministry, his compassion for the poor and marginalized. The ox becomes a visual shorthand for all of that. Editor: It’s a bit of an oxymoron itself, if you think about it— the ox made gentle, tamed, serving a greater story. And you can almost feel that weight, that significance in the image itself. The softness of the light feels really intentional too, you know? It’s tender. Curator: It's typical of Baroque art to create such dramatic lighting, playing with shadow to highlight key figures or details. Editor: Absolutely. I think the artist uses that to create such intimacy. He captures the essence of this saint in this really private moment. Look at the eyes, and the texture created on the page. You'd be tempted to consider whether what's happening outside of the visual space even matters, but it really does; the lack of vibrant colors in the foreground feels as though its there to drive all of your visual awareness towards his action. Curator: So true! And what an amazing synthesis: to visually represent complex theological ideas, Pitteri infuses a figure with such recognizable humanity, making those tenets deeply relatable. Editor: Definitely a successful piece that blends meaning and message! Thank you for pointing it out today! Curator: A pleasure.