Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon

The powerful woodcut, Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon, created by Albrecht Dürer in 1511, illustrates a critical moment from the final book of the New Testament. This celebrated print depicts the Archangel Michael, armed with a spear and shield, leading the celestial armies against the seven-headed dragon and its demonic host, a direct visualization of the war in heaven described in Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation. Dürer’s mastery of the woodcut medium is evident in the dynamic composition and intricate, tightly controlled line work, which conveys the overwhelming power of the apocalyptic struggle despite the monochromatic limitations of prints. The artist uses sharp contrasts and dense patterning, typical of Northern Renaissance graphic art, to fill the composition with chaotic, divine energy.

This print is part of a 1511 reissue of Dürer's original fifteen-plate Apocalypse series, first published in 1498. The reprinting solidified Dürer’s position as the foremost printmaker in Germany, demonstrating how reproducible media could popularize complex theological imagery among the populace. The work is considered a cornerstone of the German Renaissance, showcasing the artist’s unique fusion of Gothic expressiveness with newly acquired Italianate concern for monumental figure structure. This historical print is today held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Due to its age and stature, high-quality images and prints of this monumental woodcut often circulate within the public domain, ensuring continued study of Dürer's profound influence on religious narrative art.