Evangelists, the Four, Representations Of, in Christian Art

Evangelists, The Four, Representations of, in Christian Art

The adoption of the four creatures of the apocalypse (Re 4:6) as images of the evangelists does not seem to have taken place generally, or is not recorded on Christian monuments, before the 5th century. It involves, of course, a peculiarly impressive connection between the beginning of the visions of Ezekiel and the unveiling of heaven to the eyes of John. The application of each symbol to each writer may be referred as contemplating the Lord's divine nature. Ingenuity and devotion have done their utmost on this subject for centuries, with little result. The accompanying emblematical figures are found in the chapel of San Satiro, in Milan. See Martigny, Dict. des Arch. Chretienne, s.v.; Jameson, Sacred and Legendary Art, page 132 sq.