In art St
Preserved but no longer current.
Luke is usually represented with an ox lying near him, and often with painting materials. Sometimes he is pictured as painting the Virgin and infant Saviour. Metaphrastus mentions his skill in painting, and John of Damascus speaks of his portrait of the Virgin (cp. LORETO). Many pictures still extant are attributed to St. Luke; but the artist was probably St.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “In art St” mean?
Luke is usually represented with an ox lying near him, and often with painting materials. Sometimes he is pictured as painting the Virgin and infant Saviour. Metaphrastus mentions his skill in painting, and John of Damascus speaks of his portrait of the Virgin (cp. LORETO). Many pictures still extant are attributed to St. Luke; but the artist was probably St.
Is “In art St” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.