Saint John Devouring the Book, from The Apocalypse

Description

Saint John Devouring the Book, from The Apocalypse, is a woodcut by Albrecht Dürer dated 1497–98. Its unusual subject centers on John’s encounter with an angel and the command to consume a book, turning the reception of a divine message into a vivid physical act.

Clouds, radiating light and flowing drapery give the angelic presence an expansive character, while the earthly landscape provides a quieter setting for the encounter. Closely worked lines create rich areas of shadow, set against open passages that bring the central forms forward. In Saint John Devouring the Book, the contrast between the human figure and the visionary apparition gives the scene its sense of wonder. The work belongs to Dürer’s Apocalypse cycle; The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the example associated with this catalog record.