Winged Ox
- W01502
- Abbey Church Vestry, Caboolture, Queensland
- Antwerp, Belgium
- Late 16th century AD
- H 540 mm W 310 mm
This splendid beast represents the symbol of St Luke, one of the most important writers of the New Testament. Created in the Flemish style with coloured glass, clear glass, vitreous paint, and silver stain, the Ox of Saint Luke rests its right forehoof on a clasped Gospel. The colouring is exceptionally rich, with a well-drawn figure against a lilac-purple background (an unusual colour in stained glass) and green foreground.
Symbols associated with the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are ancient, dating back to the 4th century. They are always winged and come from the Book of Revelation.
We don’t know precisely where this beautiful panel comes from but research suggests Antwerp in Belgium is most likely.
A fabulous little panel tucked high up in the vestry of the Abbey Church. Almost certainly one of a series of four panels with symbols of the writers of the four Gospels (we have another, representing the winged lion of St Mark), this beautifully coloured figure supports the book of the gospels. It has a long ancestry, reaching back to the winged bulls or lamassu found in Assyrian palaces representing the power of the king.
Where is it?
This stained glass window can be found in the vestry of the Abbey Church. Learn more about our stained glass tours.
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