The Vision of the Seven Candlesticks

The Vision of the Seven Candlesticks by Albrecht Dürer, executed between 1496 and 1498, is a pivotal work in the history of German Renaissance prints. This impressive classification is a woodcut printed on laid paper, demonstrating Dürer’s revolutionary approach to the medium. Although dating specifically to the late part of the period spanning 1401 to 1500, the technical precision achieved in this piece elevated the woodcut far beyond its established utilitarian function. Dürer’s mastery is evident in the dynamic line work, creating deep contrasts of light and shadow, previously uncommon in relief printing.

The subject is drawn directly from the Book of Revelation (Chapter 1, verses 12-20), depicting the dramatic moment when Saint John the Evangelist receives his apocalyptic vision. Dürer shows the resurrected Christ standing powerfully amidst the seven golden candlesticks, identified by the artist as the seven churches, while Christ holds the seven stars (the seven angels). Saint John kneels in utter astonishment in the foreground. The dramatic intensity of the vision and the complex rendering of texture and drapery established Dürer as the preeminent graphic artist of his era. This work is the second illustration in his highly influential series detailing the Apocalypse, a major undertaking that profoundly influenced later generations of European art and solidified the reputation of the German master.

The critical and commercial success of this graphic series ensured its wide dissemination across Europe, significantly contributing to the fame of the artist. This specific impression of the woodcut resides in the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of the age and importance of the original matrices, high-quality reproductions and digital assets of the work are widely available today, often falling within the public domain.