The Four Evangelists

Rubens portrayed the four evangelists while working together on their texts. An angel helps them.

Each gospel author can be identified by an attribute. The attributes were derived from the opening verses of the gospels. From left to right: Luke (bull), Matthew (man [angel]), Mark (lion), and John (eagle).

This scene does not occur in the Bible. It is sometimes called the Sacra Conversazione: sacred conversation.