Saint Mark the Evangelist is traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Mark, the earliest of the four canonical Gospels. Early Christian tradition identifies him as a close companion and interpreter of St Peter ⓘ, whose preaching is thought to underlie Mark’s Gospel, and also associates him with St Paul ⓘ during missionary journeys.

According to later tradition, Mark travelled to Egypt and founded the Christian church in Alexandria, which became one of the most important centres of early Christianity. He is said to have been martyred there, and his cult developed strongly in both the eastern Mediterranean and, from the Middle Ages onward, in Venice, where his relics were believed to have been translated. His role as evangelist and founder shaped both his theological importance and his prominence in Christian devotion.

St Mark the Evangelist in Art

Saint Mark the Evangelist appears in Christian art primarily in his role as an evangelist and author of the Gospel. He is most commonly depicted writing or holding his Gospel and is almost invariably accompanied by his symbolic attribute, the lion, derived from early Christian interpretations of the opening of his Gospel.

In narrative and devotional contexts, Mark may also appear alongside St Peter, reflecting the traditional connection between Peter’s preaching and Mark’s Gospel. From the medieval period onward, his imagery became especially prominent in Venice, where the lion of St Mark ⓘ developed into both a religious and civic symbol. His iconography emphasises authority, proclamation, and the transmission of the Gospel.