Four Reliquary Busts of the Evangelists
Before us are four reliquary busts in polychrome and gilded wood.
As the name suggests, these are reliquary busts, with a round opening in the chest to hold the relic case. They were probably made between 1646 and 1661, when Bishop Ignazio Ciantes led the diocese of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi and Bisaccia; his coat of arms can still be seen on the pedestals. At some unknown date the four busts were divided between the cathedrals of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi and Bisaccia. They depict four male figures representing the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, though the differing ages of the figures may also allude to the four ages of man. The style of the garments and their decoration recall the estofado technique, which remained fashionable throughout the 17th century. They are attributed to the sculptor Domenico Di Nardo on the strength of his characteristic way of carving beards and hair.
