The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

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

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

1511
(German, 1471–1528)
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.)
Catalogue raisonné: Meder 174
Location: not on view

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.
  • Medieval Monsters: Terrors, Aliens, Wonders. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (July 7-October 6, 2019).
    Eight Masters of the Print. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (October 14, 1980-January 18, 1981).
    16th Century German Woodcuts. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 24-February 26, 1939).
  • {{cite web|title=Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon|url=false|author=Albrecht Dürer|year=1511|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1922.94.13