The St Luke lancet is more elaborate than that of the adjacent Saint Mark, framed by a densely patterned lattice of lozenges filled with jewel-like blue, red, and white glass. Luke holds a book, his Gospel, while the figure’s head and hands are rendered with the subtle modelling typical of the Bourges atelier.

His name, S. Lucas, appears at the base of the lancet. As with St Mark, Luke’s winged ox symbol is absent; instead, the design emphasises the evangelist’s human presence, with strong verticals and controlled drapery folds contributing to a sense of calm authority.

Significance

Luke’s Gospel, with its emphasis on the Incarnation and compassion, held particular resonance within cathedral liturgy. The clerestory positioning ensures that Luke appears in the zone of light above the choir, aligning the evangelist with divine illumination and the proclamation of Scripture.