St Luke: The Patron Saint of Painters

Map

St Luke by Giuseppe Obici, St Paul Outside the Walls

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October 18th is the feast day of St Luke the Evangelist.

​Luke was described by St Paul as the 'beloved physician', but he does not appear in art in this role. As he was thought to have also been a painter, he is portrayed as such, generally painting an image of the Virgin Mary. 

In art, his attribute is an ox. 

​A fine 19th century statue of St Luke stands outside the church of San Paolo fuori le Mura. 

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