The artwork in question, titled “St. Mark,” was created by the artist Andrea Mantegna in the year 1450. Its medium is oil on canvas, a technique characteristic of the Early Renaissance period, and it is classified within the genre of religious painting. Presently, the artwork resides at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
The artwork depicts St. Mark, a key figure in Christian tradition, rendered in a realistic and detailed manner typical of Early Renaissance artistry. St. Mark is portrayed with a serene yet thoughtful expression, holding a book assumed to be the Gospel of Mark, symbolizing his contributions as an evangelist. The vivid use of color and intricate attention to detail, including the delicate embroidery on his garment and the carefully rendered background, are reflective of Mantegna’s mastery and the religious reverence characteristic of the period. The composition is harmonized by the architectural framing and the naturalistic elements that adorn the scene, further emphasizing the sanctity and the narrative significance of the subject.
