Skip to Content
Closed now, next open tomorrow. Closed now, next open tomorrow.

  • Mon 11–5
  • Tue–Wed Closed
  • Thu 11–8
  • Fri–Sun 11–5
  • The first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for member-only viewing.

St. John on the Island of Patmos

A work made of engraving in black on ivory laid paper.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

Image actions

  • A work made of engraving in black on ivory laid paper.

Date:

1550/60

Artist:

Jean Duvet
French, 1485-after 1561

About this artwork

Also known as The Revelation of Saint John the Evangelist, this engraving shows the writer at work within a resplendent church interior rather than on a remote island. The book in his lap reads “In the beginning was the word,” the first verse of his gospel. The evangelist appears with his eyes shut, hand pressed to his brow as he searches for the next line. Inspiration cannot be far away, for John’s attribute, the eagle, is perched on his shoulders, giving him a borrowed pair of wings, with the Holy Trinity hovering in the air above to observe his progress.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Jean Duvet

Title

St. John on the Island of Patmos

Place

France (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Artist's working dates 1550–1560

Medium

Engraving in black on ivory laid paper

Dimensions

Plate: 29.7 × 21.1 cm (11 3/4 × 8 5/16 in.); Sheet: 31.5 × 23 cm (12 7/16 × 9 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Bequest of Mrs. Potter Palmer, Jr.

Reference Number

1956.1050

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/4392/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.
Learn more

Image actions

Share

Suggested Terms