Evangelists Luke and Matthew

The four pendentives of the chapel of Hosios Christodoulos are decorated with depictions of the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Two of them, Luke and John are today partially covered by the wooden altar placed at the east side of the chapel. Evangelist Luke is painted at the south-west pendentive. He is sitting on a wooden chair resting his feet on a wooden footstool, with a red cushion on it. He is slightly turned to the left were a lectern with an open scroll is placed. He holds a Gospel book with his left and a pen with his right hand. Evangelist Matthew, at the north-west pendentive, is depicted at the exact same pose, only with his body turned to the opposite (right) side. He is also sitting on a wooden chair with his feet on a red cushion placed on a wooden footstool. Matthew is holding an open scroll. The details of the faces and garments of the Evangelists are rendered with black lines and slight changes of colours, creating a chiaroscuro effect. Both of the figures are flanked by buildings with Gothic elements and a three dimensional impression. The works are attributed to the Cretan school of the 16th century.