The Revelation of Saint John the Evangelist, from the Apocalypse 1480 - 1570

Jean Duvet etched this image of The Revelation of Saint John, steeped in symbolism and drama, in the 16th century. Central to the composition is Saint John, shown on the Isle of Patmos, where he received his divine visions. John is seated above a dragon, a clear symbol of the Devil, with an open book in his lap and a stylus in his right hand: classical and biblical attributes merge as his figure recalls images of philosophers or writers of antiquity. Above, God and the saints occupy the sacred space above, while the dragon represents chaos and evil in the earthly sphere. This juxtaposition of celestial and infernal forces conveys a potent emotional charge, capturing John's intense spiritual experience. The dragon itself is a motif that winds its way through art history; initially signifying primordial chaos in ancient mythologies, it later evolved into a symbol of evil and temptation. Such imagery speaks to our collective memory, tapping into primal fears and desires, forever re-emerging in our art and dreams.