Saint John on Patmos by Hans Baldung Grien, Revelation 1:1-20, Bible.Gallery
Saint John on Patmos is a Oil, gold, and white metal on spruce painting by Hans Baldung Grien (1484–1545), created in c. 1511. Measuring 76.8 × 89.5 cm, it depicts the biblical scene from Revelation 1:1-20.
Artwork Description
Hans Baldung Grien's "Saint John on Patmos" depicts the apostle John on the Greek island of Patmos, where according to Revelation 1, he received his apocalyptic visions. The painting shows John in the act of writing down his divine revelations, accompanied by his traditional symbol, the eagle. This moment captures the beginning of the Book of Revelation, when John is commanded to record what he sees and send it to the seven churches of Asia.
The work demonstrates Baldung's distinctive approach to religious subjects, combining Northern Renaissance precision with expressive intensity. Painted on spruce panel with oil, gold, and white metal, the luminous surface creates a rich, glowing effect characteristic of German panel painting of this period. The composition balances the earthly setting of the rocky island with the heavenly nature of John's experience, using light and color to suggest the transcendent quality of divine revelation.
Created around 1511, this painting belongs to Baldung's early mature period, shortly after he had left Albrecht Dürer's workshop and established himself as an independent master in Strasbourg. The work is now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is recognized as a highlight of their European paintings collection. It exemplifies Baldung's ability to infuse traditional religious subjects with a personal vision that distinguishes his work from both his teacher Dürer and his contemporaries.