Saint John Beholding the Seven Golden Candlesticks, from "The Apocalypse"

Saint John Beholding the Seven Golden Candlesticks, from "The Apocalypse" is a masterful woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer during the height of his career, spanning the years 1485 to 1528. This print belongs to Dürer's renowned series illustrating the Book of Revelation, a project that profoundly elevated the status of the woodcut as a fine art medium throughout the German Renaissance. Executed with intense detail and dramatic contrast, the work showcases the high technical refinement Dürer brought to printmaking, establishing him as a pivotal figure in late 15th and early 16th-century European art.

The scene depicts the moment described in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation, where Saint John the Evangelist experiences a profound divine vision while exiled on the island of Patmos. Dürer illustrates Saint John, identifiable by the books and writing materials surrounding him, gazing upward in awe at the monumental, majestic figure of Christ. Christ appears dramatically amidst the seven golden candlesticks, which symbolize the seven churches of Asia Minor. The composition utilizes the sharp, contrasting black and white lines characteristic of Dürer's mature style, effectively heightening the tension and divine terror inherent in the prophetic vision of the Apocalypse.

This particular image is a critical component of the artist’s seminal Apocalypse collection, celebrated for its narrative power and graphic intensity. Dürer’s dedication to detailed draftsmanship, even in the relatively affordable print medium, ensured that his interpretation of the prophecy reached a broad public. Today, the high quality and historical importance of Dürer's prints mean that many examples are available in the public domain for study. This extraordinary work is part of the comprehensive collection of prints and drawings housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.