# St John the Evangelist [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [BOCCACCINO, Boccaccio]() - Date: 1451-1500 - Technique: Oil on panel ## Commentary Together with the painting of St Matthew, it was perhaps part of an altarpiece, even if past tampering with the wooden support does not permit a more detailed hypothesis. As usual, St John is wearing a red cloak over a blue robe and he is holding the book and goose quill that refer to the Gospel and the Book of Revelations, both of which he wrote. Alongside him is an eagle, symbol of the tetramorph usually connected with the saint. The book and the goose quill allude to the saint's Book of Revelations, while the meaning of the vine-like plant on the right behind him is unknown. Restoration of the two paintings has returned the fabrics to their original bright colors, together with the rich decorative details. The two panels reflect the vast scale of the antiquarian interests of Alessandro Contini Bonacossa, whose collection came to the Uffizi with a core group of paintings from Lombardy-Veneto that includes some very important pieces. ## Related artworks - [Annunciation to Joachim]() - [Annunciation to Mary]() - [Betrothal of Mary]() - [Birth of Mary]() - [Christ in Majesty with the Patron Saints of Cremona]() - [Gypsy Girl]() - [Liber Iesus]() - [Meeting at the Golden Gate]() - [St Matthew]() - [Virgin and Child]() - [Virgin and Child]() - [Virgin and Child]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()