The Martyrdom of Saint John, from "The Apocalypse", Latin Edition

The Martyrdom of Saint John, from "The Apocalypse", Latin Edition by Albrecht Dürer, dating from 1511, is a monumental example of Northern Renaissance printmaking. This powerful work is executed in the woodcut medium and is part of Dürer’s comprehensive fifteen-piece series illustrating the prophetic visions detailed in the Book of Revelation. The 1511 publication marks the second, expanded edition of the series, first published in German in 1498, reflecting the artist's deliberate move to reach an international scholarly audience by including Latin text.

The scene depicts the central moment of persecution against Saint John. Although traditionally associated with Saint John the Evangelist’s banishment to Patmos, the print dramatically conveys suffering and divine intervention, consistent with the catastrophic narratives of the Apocalypse. Dürer utilizes the inherent starkness of the woodcut technique to achieve dramatic tension and monumental scale. The composition features numerous figures, including the suffering saint, surrounded by powerful men who look on, and figures of horrified women and onlookers who frame the periphery of the action.

Dürer’s masterful manipulation of line and form demonstrates the technical apex of the graphic arts during the early 16th century. The intense draftsmanship solidified Dürer’s reputation as the preeminent printmaker of his time, profoundly influencing subsequent generations of European artists. This impressive impression of The Martyrdom of Saint John is classified as a print and is housed within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.