1430
tempera
metal
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Luke is a 1430 tempera by French 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows a person in a blue robe and halo painting another figure. The room has a wooden floor, a small window with lattice bars, and a desk with a book and tools. Bright colors like red, blue, and gold stand out, especially in the border of leaves and flowers. The person painting looks like they’re copying from a model, which was a common way to learn. The gold leaf shines in the background, adding a fancy touch. Look up tempera to see how artists mixed egg with paint for this kind of work.
This artist hid their best work inside old travel trunks. They glued vivid woodcuts into the lids of wooden boxes meant to be carried on horseback, like secret postcards from God. If you’ve ever pried open a cracked lid…
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