St. Luke

Simone Martini's depiction of Saint Luke, painted around 1330, likely formed part of a set of the four evangelists or a larger polyptych commission. Luke, traditionally regarded as the first painter of the Virgin's portrait, held special significance for artists, and his image carried meta-artistic meaning in a painter's workshop. Simone's treatment of the evangelist reflects the refined courtly aesthetic that made him the preeminent Gothic painter in Europe.

Tempera and gold on panel, with the evangelist rendered in Simone's inimitable style of flowing linear grace. The figure displays the master's hallmark qualities: luminous color, sinuous contours, exquisitely tooled gold ground, and an aristocratic bearing that elevates the sacred portrait.