Saint John the Evangelist
Unknown Artist
third quarter 15th century
Medium
Brass (copper alloy with a high percentage of zinc) with natural olive green patina.
Dimensions
H. 31.2 cm.
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Netherlandish, Tournai
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1418
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite brass figure of *Saint John the Evangelist crafted by an unknown artist in the third quarter of the 15th, hails from Tournai in the Netherlands—a renowned hub for fine metalwork during the late Gothic period. Standing at31.2 cm high, the sculpture captures the revered apostle, traditionally symbolized by his eagle emblem and role as Gospel author, in a style reflective of Netherlandish devotional art. Produced amid the flourishing trade and craftsmanship of the Burgundian Netherlands, such pieces often adorned altars, chapels, or private collections, blending piety with technica...