Saint John on Patmos c. 1547

Geoffroy Dumoûtier created this drawing of Saint John on Patmos in 16th-century France, likely as a design for a print or other work. The image shows John writing the Book of Revelation during his exile. But notice the elaborate decorative frame around the central image, filled with classical motifs, and mythological figures. This framework indicates how religious subjects were being filtered through a humanist lens during the Renaissance. Educated artists and patrons looked to classical antiquity for models of style and composition. The effect was to bring a new sense of order and clarity to even the most mystical, visionary subjects. How did these artistic choices reinforce existing social hierarchies, or subtly challenge them? To answer this, scholars consult a range of period sources, including religious treatises, emblem books, and architectural designs. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.