The Martyrdom of Saint John the Evangelist (recto), and December Calendar (verso), from Book of Hours 1496 - 1497

Philippe Pigouchet created this woodcut of ‘The Martyrdom of Saint John the Evangelist’ around 1499 as part of a Book of Hours, a popular devotional book during the late Middle Ages. The print depicts John submerged in a cauldron of boiling oil. It is a gruesome scene, made all the more poignant by John’s serene expression and the halo that marks his holiness. Books of Hours were often commissioned by wealthy patrons, so we have to ask ourselves, what did it mean to own such an image? Perhaps it was a reflection on the perceived dangers of heresy or a memento mori, a reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly life and the promise of eternal salvation. The figures surrounding John are a study in class distinctions, from the crowned king to the kneeling executioner, each an actor in this sacred drama. The image doesn't shy away from the violence inherent in religious conviction. Instead, it invites us to contemplate the emotional and physical toll of faith, both for the saint and for those who carry out what they believe to be divine will.