The Four Evangelists

work by Cimabue

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

Cimabue's fresco, The Four Evangelists, is located in the vault of the crossing of the upper church at San Francesco in Assisi. This work depicts the four evangelists, who traditionally authored the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Cimabue, a significant Italian painter of the late medieval period, is known for bridging the Byzantine style with emerging naturalism. In this fresco, the figures are rendered with a sculptural quality, enhanced by crystalline city views that add a sense of three-dimensionality and place, showcasing Cimabue's innovative approach to space and form in painting.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Cimabue
The fresco The Four Evangelists, in the vault of the crossing of the upper church at Assisi, is sculpturally conceived, but its solidity and bulk are heightened by the crystalline city views that accompany each of the figures. The view of Rome that accompanies St. Mark, for…
Read More
The fresco The Four Evangelists, in the vault of the crossing of the upper church at Assisi, is sculpturally conceived, but its solidity and bulk are heightened by the crystalline city views that accompany each of the figures. The view of Rome that accompanies St. Mark, for…
Read More