Who painted St. John the Evangelist?

St. John the Evangelist was painted by Charles de La Fosse in 1701.

Where can I see St. John the Evangelist?

St. John the Evangelist is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is St. John the Evangelist?

St. John the Evangelist is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

St. John the Evangelist

Charles de La Fosse , 1701

St. John the Evangelist is a drawing by the Baroque artist Charles de La Fosse. It dates from 1701 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This drawing is a preparatory study for a fresco depicting St.

About this work

You see a man with long hair and a book, floating on a cloud against a stormy sky.

This is a practice sketch for a big church painting in Paris. The artist drew it over and over, tweaking the pose each time. Look at the quick, confident lines—he knew exactly what he wanted.

For more like this, check out the work of Charles de La Fosse (French, 1636–1716).

Overview

This drawing is a preparatory study for a fresco depicting St. John the Evangelist, one of the Four Evangelists, in the Parisian church of Les Invalides.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing shows a man with long hair holding a book, floating on a cloud amidst a turbulent sky, embodying the evangelist St. John.

Technique & Style

Executed in La Fosse's characteristic trois crayons technique, the drawing combines black, red, and white chalk, subtly blended to achieve a sense of fluidity and movement, particularly in the drapery.

History & Provenance

The drawing is one of numerous preparatory studies La Fosse made before painting the final fresco, showcasing his iterative design process.