The author of the second Gospel was a pupil of the apostle Paul. According to legend, he was a Levite, also called John,
whom Petrus baptised and whose mother owned that house in Jerusalem into which Peter, after being released from his chains by angels, entered in (Apostles 12,12). Mark accompanies
Paul along with Barnabas on Paul’s first journey, and is with Peter in Rome (Colossians 4,10). According to legend, Peter induces him to write his Gospel, then sends him
to Aquilea and to Alexandria, to preach his Gospel. Mark is later made Bishop of Alexandria, but dies a martyr’s death while in office. His remains are brought to Venice
during the ninth century. The representation of the author shows him sitting at his desk, beside and above him his symbol, the lion, visible in full or half figure and with
wings. The power of his preaching of the Christ’s resurrection is often emphasised with inscriptions.
