Sf. Evanghelist Ioan

unspecified

From the collection of Bucharest Municipality Museum

Byzantine icon painting Classical Antiquity Religious John the Evangelist

Dominant colour

Sf. Evanghelist Ioan is an unspecified by Gheorghe Tattarescu, a Byzantine icon painting work, depicting John the Evangelist, held at Bucharest Municipality Museum.

Who painted this?: Gheorghe Tattarescu
When & what style?: Byzantine icon painting
Where can I see it?: Bucharest Municipality Museum

About this work

This painting shows a bearded man in a robe holding an open book. His face catches a beam of light while shadows fill the rest of the space. The light hits his forehead and nose, making him look thoughtful. The artist used bright colors for the robe but kept the background plain. That contrast makes the man stand out. The robe’s red folds look thick and real, like you could touch them. Look for more art with soft light and deep shadows, called chiaroscuro. Try searching for Caravaggio’s work to see how he used this technique.