An Evangelist
- Artist: Italian, Umbrian
- Date: mid-14th century
- Medium: fresco with areas of secco, transferred to canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "An Evangelist" painted in the Italian north. You can tell from his expression that he's deep in thought, trying to decide what to write next. He holds a quill pen in one hand and rests his arm on a writing desk. The quill itself would have been made from goose feathers, carefully cut to create a nib.
As you might notice, this painting is quite different from many others in the collection. It's an example of a fresco, painted directly onto a wall - not on a panel or linen support like most paintings of its time. That means it was created as part of a larger work, perhaps even in a public building.
The artist who created "An Evangelist" is believed to be the Master of San Crispino, active in Assisi in the 1330s. His style and techniques give us a glimpse into how artists worked at that time. The scene itself may depict one of the four Evangelists - authors of the Gospels - drawing inspiration from God.
Painted in the first half of the 14th century, this fragment is a valuable piece of our artistic heritage. It offers a unique look into the lives of medieval scribes and their methods for creating illuminated manuscripts by hand.
See it in person
An Evangelist hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
