The artwork named “St. John the Evangelist,” attributed to the renowned artist Andrei Rublev, dates to approximately 1400. It is part of the Byzantine and Moscow school of icon painting art movement and categorized as a miniature. This piece belongs to the series known as the “Khitrovo Gospels” and is currently housed in the Russian State Library in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork depicts a sacred scene where St. John the Evangelist is engaged in the act of writing. The composition includes a seated figure of St. John, dressed in a flowing green robe with a halo signifying his sanctity. He is positioned attentively and appears deeply focused on the young scribe seated beside him, who is writing on a scroll. The scribe is adorned with a purple garment and also features a halo, indicative of holiness. Both figures are set against a backdrop of stylized rocky landscapes, rendered in hues of red, orange, and pink, interspersed with small green plants. The golden background, a typical element in Byzantine art, further emphasizes the celestial nature of the scene. The entire piece is framed by a decorative blue border, adding to its intricate and sacred aesthetic.
