Saint Mark

About this work

This image shows a man in a blue robe sitting inside a red-and-green arched frame. He’s holding a book open in one hand and pointing with the other. Next to him stands a lion with a scroll in its mouth. The background is packed with bright flowers and birds, all outlined in gold. The gold leaf and careful brushwork suggest this was meant to look fancy and important. The lion is a classic symbol for Saint Mark, who’s often linked to lions in art. If you like this style, look up tempera to see how artists made colors glow like this.