Artwork
Saint John the Evangelist Causes a Pagan Temple to Collapse
Saint John the Evangelist Causes a Pagan Temple to Collapse is a tempera painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Francescuccio Ghissi. It dates from 1370 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a panel painting, the medium relies on pigment bound with egg yolk applied to a rigid surface, a standard technique for Italian trecento devotional images.
Created in 1370, this religious painting by Francescuccio Ghissi is executed in tempera on a wooden panel support. The work measures 35.9 centimeters in height and 38.7 centimeters in width. As a panel painting, the medium relies on pigment bound with egg yolk applied to a rigid surface, a standard technique for Italian trecento devotional images.
The composition depicts the biblical narrative of John the Evangelist causing a pagan temple to collapse, rendered within the formal constraints of the era's religious iconography. The piece remains part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its physical condition reflects the durability of the tempera and panel construction typical of the period.
History & Provenance
Saint John the Evangelist Causes a Pagan Temple to Collapse is a tempera painting on panel created by Francescuccio Ghissi in 1370. The work, which measures 35.9 by 38.7 centimeters, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The sources do not provide further details regarding the original commission, early ownership, or chain of custody prior to the painting's acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Legacy
Classified as a religious painting from the 14th century, the work Saint John the Evangelist Causes a Pagan Temple to Collapse by Francescuccio Ghissi is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Its inclusion in a major museum underscores its recognized significance as an exemplar of early Italian devotional art. The painting’s narrative subject and date have made it a point of reference for studies of 14th‑century religious imagery.
Overview
This tempera painting, titled Saint John the Evangelist Causes a Pagan Temple to Collapse, was created by Francescuccio Ghissi in 1370. The artwork depicts a pivotal moment from the life of Saint John the Evangelist, illustrating his miraculous power. It is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering insight into religious narratives and artistic practices of the late medieval period.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a narrative from the Golden Legend, where Saint John the Evangelist confronts pagan priests. The central event shows the saint, identifiable by his red robe, commanding the destruction of a pagan temple. Four figures are arranged before an arched structure, with one man gesturing towards the collapsing edifice.
The scene emphasizes the triumph of Christianity over paganism, a common theme in medieval religious art, through a dramatic display of divine intervention.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francescuccio Ghissi, also called Francesco di Cecco Ghissi, was an Italian painter. His exact date of birth and death are not known.
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