Where can I see Revelation of St. John: Angel with the Key of the Bottomless Pit?

Revelation of St. John: Angel with the Key of the Bottomless Pit is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Revelation of St. John: Angel with the Key of the Bottomless Pit?

Revelation of St. John: Angel with the Key of the Bottomless Pit is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Revelation of St. John: Angel with the Key of the Bottomless Pit

Revelation of St. John: Angel with the Key of the Bottomless Pit is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1511 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This 1511 print, 'Revelation of St.

Accession no.: 1922.94.14
Credit line: Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

About this work

Overview

This 1511 print, 'Revelation of St. John: Angel with the Key of the Bottomless Pit', is a woodcut by Albrecht Dürer, a prominent figure in the German Renaissance.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts three figures: a kneeling man with a scroll and two winged angels, one holding a key and the other pointing upwards, set against a cityscape under a stormy sky, illustrating a passage from the Book of Revelation.

Technique & Style

The black-and-white print employs chiaroscuro, using contrasting light and shadow to create drama, with the key held by an angel being a focal point despite its small size.

History & Provenance

The print is part of a series of woodcuts by Dürer based on the Book of Revelation, created in 1511, and is held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.