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Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1)

Pieter Coecke van Aelst , 1535

Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1), by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, oil, 1535
Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1), by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, oil, 1535

Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Pieter Coecke van Aelst. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1535 by the Flemish artist Pieter Coecke van Aelst, this oil on canvas portrays the biblical vision described in Ezekiel chapter 1. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and presents a complex, celestial tableau centered on a divine throne.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates the prophet Ezekiel’s encounter with the divine chariot, showing God enthroned amid four living creatures, each a tetramorph with four wings, accompanied by interlocking wheels. The arrangement emphasizes the awe‑inspiring hierarchy of the heavenly realm and the prophetic revelation of God’s mobility and omnipresence.

Technique & Style

Coecke van Aelst employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated figures against a dark, cloud‑filled sky to generate depth and a sense of the supernatural. The figures are rendered with meticulous detail, while the surrounding landscape recedes into shadow, reinforcing the painting’s solemn atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The painting was executed during the early Reformation period, a time when biblical narratives were frequently revisited in visual art. After remaining in private collections for several centuries, it entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s Northern Renaissance holdings.

Ezekiel's Vision
Ezekiel's Vision, Karol Miller

Artist & collection

Portrait of Pieter Coecke van Aelst

Artist

Pieter Coecke van Aelst

Pieter Coecke van Aelst or Pieter Coecke van Aelst the Elder was a Flemish painter, sculptor, architect, author and designer of woodcuts, goldsmith's work, stained glass and tapestries.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1)?

Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1) was painted by Pieter Coecke van Aelst in 1535.

Where can I see Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1)?

Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1) is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1)?

Ezekiel's vision of God sitting on his throne carried by four tetramorphs, each of them having four wings; wheels within wheels beside them (Ezekiel 1) is associated with Northern Renaissance.