The Vault of the Evangelists

The four evangelists are the subject of the presbytery vault, which was probably completed as a four-part fresco around 1280 by Cimabue (1240-1301/2) and his workers. The Florentine is regarded as the most significant artist of the Italian Duecento, who enabled the Byzantine-influenced painting to transition to the Gothic style. The southern field contains St. Mark with his symbol, the lion, and a portrayal of “Ytalia” to identify his sphere of influence. The west side contains the portrayal of Luke the Evangelist with the inscription “Ipnacchaia”, which refers to Ancient Greece as his sphere of influence. John the Evangelist, with the portrayal of Asia, is located on the northern vault side. The eastern field, with the fresco of Matthew the Evangelist and the inscription “Judea,” was completely and most probably irreparably destroyed. Below the inscription was an imaginary vista of Jerusalem with a domed structure identified as a temple. The book on the lectern in front of the evangelists was only half-open, in contrast to the adjoining portrayals, and did not show a legible start of the gospel according to Matthew, like the one visible in the portrayal of Luke. The decorative vault ribs were destroyed as well. The hole that stretched across the western field of the fourth bay, containing the painting of the starry sky, was closed and filled with plain plaster. The fragments have so far been reconstructed only partially.