Saint John the Evangelist

Art Historical Context

This striking wooden sculpture of *Saint John the Evangelist crafted by an unknown German artist in the 15 or 16th century stands at an impressive 43 inches tall, capturing the saint in a moment of contemplative devotion. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art department—thanks to the 1941 bequest of George Blumenthal—it the rich tradition of Northern European religious sculpture from the late Gothic period. Saint John, one of the four evangelists author of the Gospel of John, was a beloved figure in medieval Christianity, often invoked for protection and wisdom. Carved from wood and ...