Sélection Bibliorare
Dürer, Albrecht - St John devouring the Book, 1498. Woodcut, c. 39,2 x 28,3 cm (cut to border just shaving it, margins skilfully strengthened, with 2 sm. holes at right border and sm. central tear underlaid). Exc. crafty impression. Cfr. ill.
Estimation :
€2000/3000
Adjudication :
3400 €
Description
Large woodcut from the famous German “Apocalypse”, suite of 1498. “In an attempt to remain faithful to the text, the angel appears as a disembodied head radiating light on a body of ethereal clouds. His legs are columns of fire, one on sea and one on land. None of this really coheres in such a way as to suggest the figure of a mighty angel; to modern eyes he may seem more like an invention of Monty Python’s terry gilliam. the right-hand side of the composition, though, is more visually satisfying, with st John grimacing as he literally forces the Book of revelation down his throat” (k. grant).
