Revelation of St. John: Seven Angels with Trumpets

Revelation of St. John: Seven Angels with Trumpets is a powerful woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer in 1511. This work forms part of the second Latin edition of Dürer’s renowned Apocalypse series, initially executed around 1498. The 1511 publication cemented the artist's reputation, demonstrating his unparalleled technical mastery of the print medium. Dürer elevated the traditional German woodcut from a simple illustration tool into an independent, high-relief art form, utilizing innovative techniques like dense cross-hatching and varying line weights to achieve atmospheric effects and dramatic shadows.

The scene illustrates a pivotal passage from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 8, detailing the sounding of the seven trumpets and the resulting earthly catastrophes. Dürer’s composition is intensely dramatic, depicting the angels above, while below, vast destruction unfolds upon the seas and land, marked by figures reacting to the cosmic upheaval.

Produced in Germany during a period of intense religious fervor preceding the Reformation, the striking immediacy and accessibility of these prints profoundly resonated with the public. The subject of divine judgment provided fertile ground for Dürer’s intricate draftsmanship, allowing him to visualize apocalyptic terror with meticulous detail.

This exceptionally fine piece highlights the significant role Dürer played in shaping Northern Renaissance art and establishing prints as a globally distributed medium. The woodcut is held in the distinguished graphic arts collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As a seminal work, its lasting influence on subsequent artists remains evident, and due to its age and historical importance, high-resolution reproductions of this masterwork are widely available within the public domain.