Who painted The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple?

The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple was painted by Jean Duvet in 1551.

Where can I see The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple?

The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple?

The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple

Jean Duvet , 1551

The Apocalypse: The Measurement of the Temple is a print by the Renaissance artist Jean Duvet. It dates from 1551 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The print belongs to a bound collection of twenty‑three engravings that visualise the narrative of the Apocalypse as described in the Book of Revelation. This particular plate illustrates the episode known as the Measurement of the Temple. The Cleveland Museum of Art holds one of only seven complete sets of the series, a rarity among surviving examples.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts the biblical scene in which angels measure the sacred precinct, a moment that has traditionally symbolised divine judgement and the impending end of the world. By rendering this episode, the artist engages with the apocalyptic anxieties of the sixteenth century, offering a visual meditation on prophecy and salvation.

Technique & Style

Executed as an engraving, the work showcases densely packed figures rendered with a strong sense of volume, reflecting the influence of Italian High Renaissance models. Yet the composition abandons conventional perspective, favouring ornamental surface treatment and a crowded, almost theatrical arrangement that is characteristic of the artist’s distinctive, highly artificial style.

History & Provenance

The Cleveland Museum’s set is among a handful of complete collections known to survive.

Created over several years by Jean Duvet, a pioneering French printmaker active in the provincial town of Langres, the series represents the pinnacle of his career. Duvet’s exposure to Italian prints, especially those of Marcantonio Raimondi, informed his approach, while his own innovations set him apart from contemporaries. The Cleveland Museum’s set is among a handful of complete collections known to survive.

Context

In the early 1500s, French art was still largely provincial, but the circulation of printed works introduced artists like Duvet to Renaissance ideas. His engravings merge this external influence with local sensibilities, resulting in a hybrid visual language that bridges Northern detail and Southern classicism.