Minneapolis Institute of Art
The Attempted Martyrdom of Saint John, in a Cauldron of Burning Oil, Under Domitian
Albrecht DürerLinkedCulture matchlcp-840f7214ff34
- Date
- 1498 (1511 edition)
- Medium
- Woodcut
- Department
- European Art
- Institution
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Object ID
- 49892
From LinkedCulture
Why would an emperor order a man boiled alive in oil, only to watch him emerge unharmed? In Albrecht Dürer's 1498 woodcut, Saint John sits almost serene in a cauldron of roaring flames, hands raised, while guards and turbaned onlookers crowd a gallery behind him. Dense cross-hatching brings the billowing smoke and firelight to life with astonishing detail. This print, part of Dürer's landmark Apocalypse series, helped prove that woodcut could match painting in emotional and narrative power.
Written by LinkedCulture for its video on this object. Machine-generated (claude-sonnet-4-6), not yet reviewed by a person. It is not part of the museum’s record.
From the Minneapolis Institute of Art record
Germany, Europe Dimensions: 15 1/2 x 11 1/16 in. (39.37 x 28.1 cm) (image)
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- The William M. Ladd Collection Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1916
LinkedCulture video
The Attempted Martyrdom of Saint John, in a Cauldron of Burning Oil, Under Domitian
Jul 19, 2026 · Short
Museum recordRelated across collections
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