Saint John Before God and the Elders, from "The Apocalypse"

Saint John Before God and the Elders, from "The Apocalypse" is a masterful woodcut created by the German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer in 1498. This seminal print belongs to Dürer's revolutionary series illustrating the Book of Revelation, which established him as a leading figure in European art. The graphic intensity and detailed draughtsmanship demonstrated Dürer’s ambition to elevate the woodcut medium, traditionally considered a minor form, to the level of engraving and painting, allowing for the widespread dissemination of his dramatic compositions.

The scene depicts the moment when the visionary Saint John is received into heaven, witnessing the grandeur of God the Father seated on a monumental throne. Surrounding the central divine figure are the twenty-four Elders, characterized by their crowns and expressive reverence, fulfilling the prophetic vision described in the New Testament. Dürer uses stark black and white contrasts typical of the woodcut technique to organize the complex narrative space. The powerful symbolism includes flanking Angels and the four winged beasts representing the Evangelists. This work effectively combines dense theological subject matter pertaining to the Apocalypse with dramatic visual impact.

Executed just before the turn of the 16th century, this piece is pivotal in the history of Northern Renaissance prints. Dürer’s bold, expressive narrative style made the Apocalypse series an immediate bestseller across Europe. This powerful image, Saint John Before God and the Elders, is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. As a landmark in early modern printmaking, the popularity of the series has ensured that fine examples of these historic prints remain influential, often being reproduced and shared through public domain resources globally.