Cleveland Museum of Art

St. John with Serpent in Chalice

Israhel van Meckenem

Date

c. 1480–1500

Medium

engraving

Culture

Germany

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

According to legend, John the Evangelist was given a cup of poisoned wine that he drank without harm. As emblems of the tale, John’s chalice symbolizes the Christian faith prevailing over death, signified by the serpent. As a print, Meckenem's representation of Saint John like a sculpture in an architectural niche made it possible for more people to personally own a religious image that they might otherwise only have seen at a church. Saint John was an especially popular saint throughout the Middle Ages and into the early modern era because his devotion to Christ set an example for all good Christians.

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