Luke the Evangelist

The sculptural composition shows Luke the Apostle, an evangelist and doctor by profession. There is a lot of information about him, and they often mention the motif of sacrifice, namely the ox (bull), which, according to Jewish customs, was a sacrificial animal. That is why the ox became a tetramorphic symbol of the evangelist, interpreted as a sign of the sacred dignity of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. The sculptural composition depicts a full-length figure of the evangelist sitting with an open book in his left hand and his symbol – a bull's head. The saint's face is carved in detail: a high forehead, low eyebrows, expressive eyes outlined by clear arcs of eyelids, protruding cheekbones, and an open mouth. These details create an expression of light sadness, concentration, and generosity. The apostle's elongated face is enveloped in loose strands of wavy hair and beard. The saint's body is covered by a tunic, leaving only his hands and feet exposed. The garment is completely covered with dynamic lines modelled by soft, massive folds. Despite the emotional restraint in reproducing the image, the sculpture expresses Baroque plasticity, which can be traced in the spectacular pose of the evangelist and dynamic folds of the clothes.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery