Leaf from a Gospel Book or New Testament

Unknown

about 1325–1345

Tempera colors and gold leaf, Tempera Colors

J. Paul Getty Museum

A man with a blue robe and pink tunic sits on a stool, writing with a quill pen. He is seated before a wooden desk with an open book and inkwell. The background is gold leaf. The Evangelist Saint Mark, identified in red writing at the top of the image, pauses to sharpen the pen that he will use to write his gospel. Seated on an ornate, cushioned bench, he leans toward a low writing desk spread with scribal tools. The bright blue and pink folds of his clothing fall gracefully around him, adding bulk to his form, even as they reveal its contours. Despite his finely-detailed desk and chair, the saint sits against a bare, gleaming gold background that reflects his holy status and situates him in a moment of divine inspiration. This type of Evangelist portrait was commonly found in Gospel books made in the la