One illustration in the American Bible
Society’s Learning Bible shows an unusual rendering of the
Evangelists. What is it? —Angela Harpalani, Reston,
Va.

You refer to the tetramorph, the four attributes of the Evangelists
depicted as creatures in a winged figure. The four animal figures were
described in Revelation 4.6-8 and became associated with the four
Evangelists. Traditionally, Matthew is shown as a winged man, Mark as a
lion, Luke as an ox and John as an eagle; or they are illustrated as men
with the corresponding creatures by their side. Matthew is often
accompanied by an angel. Since the fourth century A.D., these were
commonly used in Bible illumination, church mosaics and stained-glass
windows as symbols and have become part of the Christian tradition.