St. John the Evangelist 1525

This 1525 oil painting titled "St. John the Evangelist" by Jacopo Pontormo portrays the apostle in a dramatic, highly emotional style characteristic of Mannerism. John is depicted in a circular frame, his gaze directed outward, his hand holding a quill in a gesture of writing. His long white beard and cloak add to the sense of gravity and importance. The artist’s use of light and shadow, and the elongated, distorted figure, contribute to the emotional intensity of the work, characteristic of Mannerist painting.