Emblem of St. Luke (winged bull)

myminifactory

This emblem of St Luke is one the Emblems of Four Evangelists. The winged living figure, which is most frequently met with, and which have ever been most in favour with Early Christian artists, appear to have been used at a very early date. The four emblems are taken from the vision of Ezekiel and the Revelation of St. John. "The writings of St. Jerome," says, "in the beginning of the fifth century gave to artists authority for the appropriation of the four creatures to the Evangelists," and for reasons which are there given at length.  St. Luke: Winged Bull, Passion - The form of the bull, the beast of sacrifice, fitly set forth the sacred office, and also the atonement for sin by blood, on which, in the gospel, he particularly dwells. The rest of the Emblems of the Four Evangelist consist of St. Matthew  (winged man), St. Mark (winged lion), and St. John (the eagle). Independently of their reference to the four evangelists these figures sometimes refer to the Incarnation, the Passion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension. Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64, The Wolfson Gallery, case WS