Artwork Page for Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon

Details / Information for Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon

Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon

1511

Albrecht Dürer

(German, 1471–1528)
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Culture
Germany
Medium
woodcut
Measurements
Sheet: 39.2 x 28.2 cm (15 7/16 x 11 1/8 in.); Mat Size: 48.9 x 36.3 cm (19 1/4 x 14 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1922.94.13
Catalogue raisonné
Meder 174
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

This woodcut comes from a series of 15 scenes from the Apocalypse. Dürer drew upon late
northern Gothic traditions infused with the reality of spiritual events, biblical interpretation, and
dense composition, as well as careful attention to naturalistic details of flora and fauna. He interprets
Saint John’s visions by giving them a convincing physical existence. This scene depicts the war in
heaven, a final battle between good and evil. Saint Michael and his angels defeat the dragon (Satan)
and the other fallen angels, now morphed into repulsive demons, casting them into hell.
A vertically oriented woodcut in black ink depicts five winged angels with light skin tones battling a multi-headed dragon and smaller monsters. Centrally, St. Michael thrusts a long spear downward. Above and beside him, other angels wield swords, shields, and a bow. In the lower third, a landscape shows a walled town near water with ships and distant hills. Dense black hatching creates texture throughout, and a monogram sits at the bottom center.

Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon

1511

Albrecht Dürer

(German, 1471–1528)
Germany

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