Vasari, Giorgio (1511-1574)
San Luca (Saint Luke)
1570–1571
Oil on panel, 177.8 × 99.1 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington
The Saint Luke and Saint Mark panels were part of a commission from Pope Pius V in 1569 to decorate the newly built Torre Pio (Pius Tower) in the Vatican. The project, for which Vasari was knighted by the pope, was finished in two years. Saint Luke, patron saint of painters, with his attribute of a winged ox, is seen in the act of painting or drawing (a faint sketch of Madonna and Child is barely visible over his right shoulder). Saint Mark, with his winged lion, writes his Gospel.
Pair:
Vasari, Giorgio (1511-1574)
San Marco
1570–1571
National Gallery of Art, Washington