Artwork
St. John the Evangelist
St. John the Evangelist is a print by Nicolas Larmessin. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This paper print portrays St.
About this work
Overview
This paper print portrays St. John the Evangelist as a winged figure suspended among clouds. He holds a book and a quill, his posture slightly turned with one leg bent, and he is dressed in a loose, flowing robe. His curly hair frames a calm, downward gaze, while a distant landscape of small buildings and hills spreads below.
Subject & Meaning
The image identifies the apostle John, traditionally associated with the Gospel and the Book of Revelation, symbolized by the book and writing instrument. The wings and ethereal setting suggest his spiritual elevation and role as a divine messenger, reinforcing his status as a prophet and author of sacred texts.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print after a composition by Raphael, the work employs line work and shading to model the figure against a cloudy background. The rendering reflects the chiaroscuro approach, using contrasts of light and dark to give volume to the drapery and emphasize the figure’s serene expression.
History & Provenance
The print was produced by Nicolas de Larmessin, a French engraver active in the early 17th century, who translated Raphael’s painted design into a reproducible medium. It was circulated as a devotional image, allowing broader access to Raphael’s composition beyond the original painting.
Context
During the Baroque period, reproductions of Renaissance masters were common, serving both educational and devotional purposes. Larmessin’s work fits within this tradition, disseminating Raphael’s iconography of St. John to a wider audience through the relatively affordable medium of print.
Artist & collection
Artist
A Parisian printmaker active in the early to mid-1700s, Nicolas Larmessin specialized in finely detailed engravings of religious scenes and famous faces.
