Artwork
The Evangelist Saint Luke
The Evangelist Saint Luke is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Joachim Wtewael. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work, created in 1610, functions as a devotional image representing this specific biblical figure within the tradition of religious iconography.
The painting depicts Luke the Evangelist, the sole main subject of the work by Joachim Wtewael. As a piece of religious art, the composition centers on the figure of the saint, identifying him as the author of the Gospel of Luke. The work, created in 1610, functions as a devotional image representing this specific biblical figure within the tradition of religious iconography. The visual focus remains entirely on the evangelist, aligning with the genre's purpose of honoring the saints.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on canvas, a common support for early 17th-century Dutch religious paintings. Measuring 68 cm in height and 50 cm in width, the composition portrays Luke the Evangelist with a characteristic emphasis on his scholarly activity, reflecting the stylistic traits of Joachim Wtewael's Mannerist approach. The handling of brushwork and the vivid coloration contribute to a formal quality marked by crisp outlines and richly rendered drapery.
History & Provenance
The work titled The Evangelist Saint Luke was painted by Joachim Wtewael in 1610 as an oil on canvas religious composition. It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display in the museum's gallery of Dutch Golden Age paintings. The painting was created as an autonomous work rather than a commissioned piece, reflecting Wtewael's practice of producing cabinet pieces for private appreciation.
Its dimensions are 68 cm in height and 50 cm in width, matching the specifications recorded at the time of its execution.
Overview
Created in 1610, The Evangelist Saint Luke is an oil painting by Dutch artist Joachim Wtewael. Executed in the Mannerist idiom that flourished in Haarlem at the turn of the 17th century, the work presents a solitary, bearded figure rendered with meticulous detail. It now belongs to the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joachim Anthoniszoon Wtewael (Dutch pronunciation:; 1566 – 1 August 1638), also known as Uytewael (pronounced ), was a Dutch Mannerist painter and draughtsman, as well as a highly successful flax merchant, and town councillor of Utrecht.
