description The Apocalypse: Saint John Devouring the Book (Dürer, 1498) Overview
Albrecht Dürer’s “The Apocalypse: Saint John Devouring the Book” (1498) is a woodcut depicting the biblical prophet John consuming a flaming book. This image from his series explores themes of divine knowledge and humanity's struggle with understanding God's will. The work showcases Dürer’s mastery of detail within the woodcut medium and reflects Renaissance religious art’s engagement with apocalyptic visions. It is primarily intended for viewers interested in early German Renaissance art, specifically those studying religious iconography or Dürer’s artistic techniques.
insights Ranking position
The Apocalypse: Saint John Devouring the Book (Dürer, 1498) ranks #61 of 207 in the Woodcut ranking, behind Albrecht Dürer - Four Angels Holding Back the Winds, ahead of Katsushika Hokusai - Under Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa.
help The Apocalypse: Saint John Devouring the Book (Dürer, 1498) FAQ
Which biblical passage does Saint John Devouring the Book depict?
The scene comes from Revelation 10, where a mighty angel gives John a little open book and commands him to eat it. The text says it tastes sweet as honey but makes his stomach bitter.
Was Dürer's Saint John Devouring the Book an engraving or a woodcut?
It is a woodcut, printed from a carved wooden block rather than an engraved copper plate. The Metropolitan Museum of Art dates the work to 1498 and records an image size of roughly 39 by 28 centimetres.
How does this print fit into Dürer's Apocalypse series?
It belongs to Dürer's illustrated Apocalypse, issued in German and Latin editions in 1498. The series contains 15 principal narrative woodcuts, with this image appearing near the end of John's visions.
Why is the angel shown standing on both land and sea?
That pose follows Revelation 10, in which the angel places one foot on the sea and the other on the earth. Dürer uses the enormous figure and divided landscape to communicate the angel's universal authority.
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