Scene from Revelations n.d.

Ottmar Elliger the Younger created this drawing titled "Scene from Revelations" at the turn of the 18th century. At this time, theological debates raged throughout Europe. The Book of Revelation offered rich imagery for artists to explore the mysteries of faith, and it also could have become a battleground for different Christian interpretations. The picture presents a hierarchy in Heaven, and the artist, working in the Dutch Republic, would have been very aware of how such images could either reinforce or challenge existing social norms. Do the figures represent a spiritual meritocracy or a divinely ordained class system? As art historians, we examine the theological and social history of the period, looking at religious texts, political pamphlets, and the biographies of both the artist and his patrons, to understand how the artwork might have functioned within its original cultural context. Ultimately, the meaning of this drawing is contingent on those contexts.