St Luke Sitting on a Cloud 1527 - 1585

Luca Cambiaso made this pen and ink drawing of St Luke sometime in the 16th century. Here, the Gospel writer is portrayed in a moment of study, accompanied by his symbolic attribute, the ox. Italy during the Renaissance was a highly Christian society with a strong sense of connection to the events and figures described in the Bible. Visual depictions of saints, like this one, were a common sight. Religious institutions helped shape artistic production at this time. Artists often worked to commission for the church. The illustrations and artworks that they made played a significant role in teaching Biblical stories to the masses. As art historians, we can examine the conventions and symbols used to represent religious figures like St Luke, and through further research, understand more about the place of religion in people’s daily lives during the Renaissance. The meaning of this artwork is tied to its social and institutional context.