Artwork
Saint John the Evangelist in Patmos
Saint John the Evangelist in Patmos is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan Bautista Maíno. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Saint John the Evangelist situated on the island of Patmos, the traditional location of his exile and the reception of the Apocalypse.
The painting depicts Saint John the Evangelist situated on the island of Patmos, the traditional location of his exile and the reception of the Apocalypse. The composition identifies the main subject through specific attributes: the saint is shown with a book and an inkwell, tools essential to his role as the author of the Gospel and Revelation. These objects symbolize the divine inspiration and the act of recording the visions he received while in isolation.
As a work of religious art, the piece visualizes the moment of spiritual revelation, grounding the theological narrative within a landscape setting that reflects the saint's physical and spiritual seclusion.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1612, this work is an oil painting on canvas by Juan Bautista Maíno. The composition measures 74 cm in height and 163 cm in width, presenting a horizontal format that accommodates both the figure of Saint John the Evangelist and the surrounding landscape of Patmos. As a piece of religious art, the medium allows for the detailed rendering of specific attributes, including a book and an inkwell alongside the saint.
The integration of landscape elements with the religious subject matter characterizes the visual approach of this early seventeenth-century piece.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1612 by Juan Bautista Maíno, this oil-on-canvas depicts Saint John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos.
The work entered the Museo del Prado after passing through the Museo de la Trinidad, indicating it was among the holdings transferred when the latter institution was absorbed by the Prado.
The painting Saint John the Evangelist in Patmos by Juan Bautista Maíno is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work was previously part of the holdings of the Museo de la Trinidad before its integration into the Prado's main collection. Created in 1612, the oil on canvas depicts the evangelist on the island of Patmos alongside a book and inkwell.
The artwork has been featured in the exhibition titled El Siglo de Oro. The Age of Velázquez. This display highlighted the piece within the context of Spanish Golden Age art, showcasing Maíno's religious and landscape elements to a broader audience.
Legacy
Saint John the Evangelist in Patmos, painted by Juan Bautista Maíno in 1612, entered the collections of both the Museo del Prado and the Museo de la Trinidad, where it is displayed as a representative piece of Spanish Golden Age religious art. Its participation in the exhibition El Siglo de Oro. The Age of Velázquez further highlighted its significance within the period’s artistic narrative.
The work’s substantial dimensions, oil on canvas, and thematic focus on the apostle’s visionary exile on Patmos have made it a reference point for scholars studying the interplay of text and image in early Baroque painting. Consequently, the painting is frequently cited in discussions of the era’s devotional art and its lasting impact on museum displays of Counter‑Reformation subjects.
Overview
Juan Bautista Maíno's oil painting, Saint John the Evangelist in Patmos, was completed in 1612. This religious work depicts John the Evangelist during his period of exile on the island of Patmos, a location traditionally associated with his composition of the Book of Revelation. The artwork captures a moment of profound contemplation, presenting the saint in a serene, solitary setting. It is currently part of the collection at the Museo del Prado.
Artist & collection
