Johannes de Evangelist 1783

John B. Skippe created this engraving, ‘Johannes de Evangelist’, depicting St. John seated on an eagle, likely during the 18th century. The eagle, a potent symbol, has long been associated with St. John the Evangelist, embodying the soaring, spiritual nature of his Gospel. Consider the evolution of this symbol: in antiquity, the eagle was linked to Zeus, a symbol of power and divine authority. Yet, across cultures, the symbolic meanings of the eagle have changed. Here, as St. John’s attribute, it marks the capability to achieve spiritual heights, linking the divine to the earthly. This mirrors how our collective memory often repurposes symbols. The image evokes a sense of contemplation. This recalls similar themes of divine inspiration from ages past, demonstrating a continuous thread in how we express deep faith. Through Skippe's work, we see how symbols persist, adapt, and express fundamental emotional and spiritual truths across time.