Spanish school, 18th century.
"Saint John the Evangelist".
Mixed media on parchment.
Measurements: 23,5 x 19,5 cm.
In this painting, dated from the 18th century, Saint John the Evangelist assumes an inspired attitude, as he is about to relate divine events. St John holds a pen in his right hand, which alludes to his status as the author of the Gospel, as do the volume and the loose leaves scattered on the ground. His image, however, does not correspond to the youthful features usually attributed to him in traditional depictions: he has a light beard and long brown hair instead of the idealised canonical hairless face. Despite this singularity, the figure is perfectly identifiable thanks to the presence of an eagle at his feet. The eagle, a symbolic element in John, like the angel in Matthew, the lion in Mark and the bull in Luke, is taken from Old Testament writings (the visions of the prophet Ezekiel) as well as from the text of the Apocalypse itself. She wears a long robe that falls in naturalistic folds to the ground, revealing her bare feet, and a draped red cloak whose drapery is swollen by the breeze of the Judean beach on which she stands.