Saint John the Evangelist 1477 - 1483

Curator: Right now, we’re standing in front of “Saint John the Evangelist,” a pencil drawing rendered between 1477 and 1483, made by an unknown artist from the Upper Rhine region of Switzerland. It resides here at The Met. Editor: It's a charming drawing! The figure looks like he's been caught between pouting and about to break into a grin. There is so much drapery that I don’t think it would be out of place in a Renaissance festival. The halo feels so… fragile? Curator: Your reading is very evocative! The northern-renaissance was defined, in part, by such naturalism and close observation. Note the level of detail, particularly in the rendering of the saint's robes and the chalice he holds, the symbol often associated with John the Evangelist. Editor: Oh, that little goblet must be the famous chalice from the story of him surviving a poisoned wine. Gutsy move, serving the dude poison and assuming he won’t be protected by the Big Guy upstairs. I love the slightly awkward pose – almost childlike in its earnestness. And the chiaroscuro, it has an unusual strength, but very different from what Leonardo achieved at the same time in Italy. Curator: Absolutely. We see that stylistic distinction here, particularly in the more linear, less atmospheric approach to modeling form, even if there is clear effort and skill involved in rendering dimension. It speaks to a fascinating intersection of regional traditions and developing Renaissance ideals in late 15th-century Europe. Moreover, placing John in a massive cathedral throne is a statement regarding the church’s power! Editor: Is that right? Or maybe, on a more whimsical note, the saint's just borrowed a comfy chair. It would do wonders to support that cascade of folds on the robes; my own comfy chair feels something like that. Ultimately, the work leaves one in that strange and sublime state: wondering. Curator: A thought which in and of itself opens pathways into deeper considerations of the artist and their vision. Editor: It surely does! And with this drawing, they created an almost palpable sense of someone existing outside of this dimension in some meaningful way.