The artwork, titled “Triptych of the Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine of Alexandria, right wing: Scene of St. John the Evangelist in Patmos,” was created by the artist Hans Memling between 1474 and 1479. This exquisite piece, executed in oil on panel, belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement and is a notable example of religious painting. As part of the series “Triptych of the Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine of Alexandria,” the artwork is currently housed in the Memling Museum (Old St. John’s Hospital) in Bruges, Belgium.
The artwork illustrates a vivid and spiritually charged scene featuring St. John the Evangelist, who is depicted in a moment of divine revelation on the island of Patmos. St. John is portrayed sitting on a rocky outcrop, clad in a flowing red robe, with a book on his lap. He gazes upward with a contemplative expression, suggesting a profound visionary experience. Above St. John, within a celestial mandorla, Christ is enthroned, surrounded by an assembly of angels and saints. The scene is rich with symbolic imagery, including representations of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and other apocalyptic visions from the Book of Revelation. The intricate details, vibrant colors, and ethereal quality of the scene underscore Memling’s masterful technique and his ability to convey complex theological themes through his art.
