Artwork
The evangelist Mark
The evangelist Mark is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Artus Wolffort. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Artus Wolffort’s 1601 oil painting titled *The Evangelist Mark* presents the apostle Mark engaged in the act of writing. Executed in the early Baroque period, the work is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection in Madrid. The composition focuses on a solitary figure illuminated against a dark backdrop, emphasizing the act of transcription as a devotional gesture.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays Mark, traditionally regarded as the author of the second Gospel, holding a feather pen and inscribing a text. By depicting the evangelist in the midst of his literary task, Wolffort underscores the sanctity of scriptural transmission and the contemplative dedication required to convey divine revelation.
Technique & Style
Wolffort employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, allowing light to strike the face and hands while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. The oil medium renders the texture of skin, beard, and the vellum‑like pages with tactile realism, while the contrast heightens the three‑dimensional presence of the saint.
History & Provenance
Created in 1601, the painting reflects Wolffort’s early career in Flanders, where he specialized in religious and mythological history scenes. The work entered the Spanish royal collection before being transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it remains on public display as part of the museum’s Baroque holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Artus Wolffort, Artus Wolffaert or Artus Wolffaerts (1581–1641) was a Flemish painter known mainly for his history paintings depicting religious and mythological scenes.
