Description:As part of the series, The Apocalypse, that Albrecht Dürer had created based on the book of Revelations from the Christian Bible, The Torture of St. John the Evangelist was the only woodcut that was based on legend, and not inspired from the book itself. This allowed Dürer slightly more freedom in his depiction of the various vignettes that make up the background of this busy, bustling scene.
According to Strauss:
Because he was dealing with a legend and not a revelation, Dürer was able to dispense with the rim of clouds; he sets this scene in contemporary surroundings. The sheet is the most sumptuous of the series, and offers an overabundance of details. Even the faces in the background have a portraitlike quality. (198)
Created for the Latin edition of 1511, this print features the rare, latin text on the verso and is also monogrammed with Albrecht Dürer’s signature stamp, ‘AD’ in the lower center. With ¼” margins on all sides with the ink stamp of collector Georg Hamminger (Lugt 1159) who collected Dürer’s works during the late 19th century.
Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
It is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).
1. Barlow, T.D. Woodcuts of Albrecht Dürer, Penguin Books: London, 1948. Listed and illustrated as plate no. 16.
2. Boon, Karel G. & Robert W. Scheller. The Graphic Art of Albrecht Dürer, Hans Dürer, and The Dürer School, Amsterdam, 1971. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 164 on pg. 136.
3. Holzschnitte & Holzschnittfolgen. Albrecht Dürer – Das Druckgraphische Werk, Band I, New York, 2002. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 112 on pgs. 70-2.
4. Kurth, Willi. The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Dürer, Dover Publications, Inc.: New York, 1963. Listed and illustrated as plate no. 106 and detailed on pgs. 20-1.
5. Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog, Vienna, 1932. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 164 on pg. 153.
6. Pawlak, Manfred, et. al. Albrecht Dürer, 1471 bis 1528. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 1492-3 with detail on the Apocalypse series on pgs. 1488-9.
7. Strauss, Walter L., ed. Albrecht Dürer – Woodcuts and Woodblocks, New York, 1980. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 54 on pgs. 198-200.
About the Framing:
Framed in museum-quality, archival materials, this work is set in a Spanish style bronze and gold-leaf frame. Includes a secondary aperture and window opening on the reverse to highlight the Latin text. The muted tones of the moulding compliment the black, outer frame and also highlights the tones and textures of the highly detailed etching. The Torture of St. John the Evangelist is completed with white, linen-wrapped mats and a matching gold inner fillet and finished behind an archival Plexiglas® cover.
