Artwork
Roundel with Saint John on Patmos
Roundel with Saint John on Patmos is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is a roundel‑shaped painting depicting Saint John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The roundel depicts John of Patmos, the traditional name for the Evangelist John during the period of his exile on the Greek island of Patmos, where, according to Christian tradition, he received and wrote the Book of Revelation. The circular format concentrates attention on this solitary visionary moment, presenting John as the inspired author of the Apocalypse rather than in his more common guise as Evangelist.
Dated to 1510, the work belongs to a long devotional tradition of representing John on Patmos, in which the saint is typically shown alone on the rocky island, often gazing upward in response to a divine vision. By isolating this episode in a tondo, a shape associated with contemplation and eternity, the painting invites the viewer to meditate on the revelatory experience that produced the final book of the New Testament.
Technique & Style
The limited palette, earth tones punctuated by metallic highlights, conveys a serene atmosphere while maintaining a clear emphasis on the central figure.
The work is a small round painting on a wooden panel, executed in tempera with gold-leaf accents applied to a gessoed surface. It features a half-length figure of John of Patmos rendered in a restrained, linear style. Subtle modeling of the flesh tones and delicate handling of the drapery reveal a soft chiaroscuro that emphasizes the saint's contemplative expression.
The rounded format and the integration of gold leaf into the background create a balance between pictorial space and ornamental effect, reflecting contemporary devotional practice. The limited palette, earth tones punctuated by metallic highlights, conveys a serene atmosphere while maintaining a clear emphasis on the central figure.
History & Provenance
The Roundel with Saint John on Patmos is a painting created in 1510 by an anonymous artist. It is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is accessioned as 32.24.33. The piece depicts John of Patmos and dates to the early sixteenth century. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
The work is a roundel‑shaped painting depicting Saint John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos. He is seated on a craggy ledge, clothed in a white robe trimmed with a yellow sash, and a halo crowns his head. In his lap lies an open book, while a large bird, perhaps a raven, perches nearby.
The scene opens onto a distant sea dotted with ships and silhouetted structures, under a sky where a luminous figure hovers within a yellow oval.
Artist & collection
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