Artwork Page for Christ and Saint John the Evangelist

Details / Information for Christ and Saint John the Evangelist

Christ and Saint John the Evangelist

1300–1320

Germany, Swabia, near Bodensee

(Lake Constance)
Medium
polychromed and gilded oak
Measurements
Overall: 92.7 x 64.5 x 28.8 cm (36 1/2 x 25 3/8 x 11 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1928.753
Public Domain
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Location
On view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, Oct 16, 2025 - Mar 29, 2026
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Description

This sculptural group featuring Saint John the Evangelist resting on the shoulder of Christ was a prolific subject in Swabia, the region on the Swiss border. The subject appears to be unique to this region, where it became popular in the years following 1300. Many of these devotional sculptures adorned the chapels of Dominican convents; this is artistically among the finest to survive. It captures the pathos of the moment, based on the Gospel of John (13:23), which states that during the Last Supper one of Christ’s disciples, namely "whom Jesus loved," was resting on his shoulder. As a focus for devotion and contemplation, this sculpture reflects the fundamental religious beliefs rooted in the mysticism that dominated the period. Mysticism was a movement that intended to stimulate the contemplation of Christ’s Passion and suffering. Mysticism encouraged private devotion and religious images, called andachtsbilder (devotional images), appeared in large numbers in late medieval Germany.
Oak wood sculpture with gilding mostly worn away to cracked white depicting a seated Christ on our left and Saint John the Evangelist on our right, leaning his head on Christ's shoulder. Christ wraps his left arm around Saint John's shoulder and holds Saint John's right hand in his right. Both wear flowing robes and have bare feet. Christ has straight hair and a beard still showing brown paint while Saint John has wavy hair.

Christ and Saint John the Evangelist

1300–1320

Germany, Swabia, near Bodensee (Lake Constance)

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