Artwork
Four Evangelists
Four Evangelists is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the four evangelists, the traditional authors of the New Testament Gospels.
The painting depicts the four evangelists, the traditional authors of the New Testament Gospels. As a religious work, it presents these figures as witnesses to Christ’s life and teachers of the Christian faith, emphasizing their role in spreading the Gospel message. The evangelists collectively symbolize the authority and universality of the Christian teaching, reflecting Rubens’s focus on religious narrative and devotional imagery.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas. It measures 107.4 cm in height and 137.4 cm in width, reflecting its substantial scale. The composition portrays the four evangelists, a subject drawn from biblical tradition and rendered with the dynamism characteristic of Rubens’ style.
The paint is applied in layered brushwork that conveys both texture and movement, while the handling of light and spatial depth enhances the narrative intensity. These formal qualities align with Rubens’ mature approach to religious subjects, combining dramatic gesture with rich coloristic modulation.
History & Provenance
Peter Paul Rubens's Four Evangelists, created in 1608, is currently held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The work resides at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, though some records also associate its location with Schloss Neuburg in Bavaria. The painting is executed in oil on canvas and measures 107.4 cm in height by 137.4 cm in width.
The provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers for the work. Furthermore, no details regarding the painting's exhibition history are available in the given documentation.
Overview
Four Evangelists is a 1608 oil painting by Peter Paul Rubens, a prominent Flemish artist. The work is characteristic of the Flemish Baroque style, known for its dramatic and dynamic compositions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch:; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
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