John the Evangelist Writing the Gospel - studio
The background of early illuminations is generally of a neuter character, an opaque golden pigment or a decorative pattern being used. Surrounding architectural elements will appear later, most of them depicting a scholar’s studio.
The character is represented either sitting or standing in front of a table upon which there are writing tools. Usually, an open codex is also present on the table, suggesting the Books of the Prophets from the Old Testament.
The character, dressed in a tunica and chiton, is almost always represented meditating over the text (sometimes he is not looking at the text but straight ahead, while other times he is keeping his head in his arms, in a typical meditating posture).
Physically, the Evangelist may be depicted either as a very old man (white-haired, with a high forehead and bald, fully-bearded and wrinkled) or very young.
A red or black outline, delimiting a circle-like zone of the golden background, or a flat disk represents the nimbus. More often than not the Evangelist is accompanied by his symbol, the Eagle, its head sometimes crowned by a nimbus.
The background of early illuminations is generally of a neuter character, an opaque golden pigment or a decorative pattern being used. Surrounding architectural elements will appear later, most of them depicting a scholar’s studio.
The character is represented either sitting or standing in front of a table upon which there are writing tools. Usually, an open codex is also present on the table, suggesting the Books of the Prophets from the Old Testament.
The character, dressed in a tunica and chiton, is almost always represented meditating over the text (sometimes he is not looking at the text but straight ahead, while other times he is keeping his head in his arms, in a typical meditating posture).
Physically, the Evangelist may be depicted either as a very old man (white-haired, with a high forehead and bald, fully-bearded and wrinkled) or very young.
A red or black outline, delimiting a circle-like zone of the golden background, or a flat disk represents the nimbus. More often than not the Evangelist is accompanied by his symbol, the Eagle, its head sometimes crowned by a nimbus.
