Statues - Hither & Thither

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Carrigaline - Carraig Uí Leighin
Co. Cork - Corcaigh

Main Street
(Church of Our Lady and St. John)

The Four Evangelists

The four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Their versions of the life of Jesus - the Gospel - are included in the New Testament. In art, they are depicted with their symbols: Eagle (John), Lion (Mark), Bull (Luke) and Angel (Matthew) or just with these symbols in the so-called tetramorphe.

Seamus Murphy
1957

Carrigaline - Carraig Uí Leighin / The Four Evangelists

Description

Stone relief with the emblems of the Four Evangelist with their names in Gaelic.

Top left: Angel - Maitiu / St. Matthew.
Top right: Lion - Marc / St. Mark.
Bottom left: Bull - Lúc / St. Luke.
Bottom right: Eagle - Eoin / St. John the Evangelist.

Signature

seamus murphy r.h.a.

Four Evangelists

The four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Their versions of the life of Jesus - the Gospel - are included in the New Testament of the Bible. In art, these four evangelists are depicted since the fourth century not only in human forms, but also with symbols, inspired by the visions in the Bible book of Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. The Apostle John appears as an eagle, Luke as a bull, Mark as a lion and Matthew as an angel. This view, also called tetramorphe (from Greek: four forms), is probably of Syrian origin (Wikipedia).
In the earliest versions tetramorph was used as a symbol of the majesty of Christ, the human figure signifies the Incarnation, the bull Jesus' priesthood, the lion and the eagle the power of his divine grace. In the earliest representations of the tetramorph the four figures are arranged around the throne of Christ (Maiestas Domini) ( Catholic Netherlands).

Sculptor

Seamus Murphy - S. Ó Murcada (Burnfort near Mallow, Co. Cork 1907 - Cork 1975), Irish sculptor (Website).

Sources & Information

Carrigaline Parish, A History of Our Lady and St John.

Locatie (N 51°48'58" - W 8°23'27") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: ie168; Photograph: 15 June 2014
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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