Evangelist symbols

Romano employs the elongated forms, exaggerated poses and vivid coloration characteristic of Mannerist art. The child’s rounded limbs, curly hair and delicate wings contrast with the stylized, almost sculptural rendering of the lion’s head, the upward‑curving bull’s horns and the brightly feathered bird, all set against a warm, muted background.

Created shortly after Romano’s move from Rome to Mantua, the painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has remained on display as part of the museum’s Renaissance collection.

Romano’s departure from the balanced classicism of his master Raphael marks a shift toward the artificial elegance of Mannerism. By integrating symbolic animal motifs with a cherubic figure, the work reflects contemporary interests in allegorical complexity and the reinterpretation of traditional religious themes.