One of the Set of the Four Evangelists: John

About this artwork

Alessandro Vittoria was a dominant figure in Venetian art during the last quarter of the 16th century. The Art Institute's four sculptures, made with verve and assurance, served as models for bronze statuettes that were apparently never executed. The bronzes would have adorned niches in a tabernacle or altar, as is suggested by the summary treatment of their backs. Their poses suggest an ordering, from left to right, of Luke, Mark, Matthew, and John. The presence of their symbols—a bull for Luke...

Art Historical Context

In the late Renaissance era, Venetian sculptor Alessandro Vittoria crafted this terracotta model of *One of the Set of the Evangelists: John* 1580. Standing at 58.7 cm tall, it belongs to a series depicting the Gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—each symbolized by their traditional attributes, with John often shown as a youthful evangelist holding a book or eagle. As a *bozzetto* (preparatory sketch), this work served as a vital step in Vittoria's process, allowing him to refine poses and expressions before casting in bronze for grand ecclesiastical commissions. Vittoria, a leading Mannerist artist influenced by Michelangelo's dynamism and Jacopo Sansovino's elegance, excelled in terracotta for its malleable warmth, enabling fluid drapery and expressive gestures. This medium's earthy tone and textured surface capture John's contemplative intensity, highlighting the sculptor's mastery of light and shadow in small-scale models. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of European Painting and Sculpture, it exemplifies Venice's vibrant late-16th-century fusion of religious devotion and artistic innovation. These Evangelist sets adorned altars and pulpits, underscoring the Counter-Reformation's emphasis on vivid Gospel imagery to inspire faith. Vittoria's lively anatomy and emotional depth make this piece a window into the creative fervor of Renaissance workshops.

About the Artist

Alessandro Vittoria · 1525–1608

Italian sculptor and medallist. Comment on works: Sculptor; Medalist