St. John with Serpent in Chalice
c. 1480–1500
Israhel van Meckenem
Israhel van Meckenem (German, c. 1440–1503)
Prints
St. John with Serpent in Chalice, c. 1480–1500. Israhel van Meckenem (German, c. 1440–1503), after Hans Holbein (German, c. 1465–1524). Engraving; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1925.991 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.
- Maker/Artist
- Meckenem, Israhel van, the younger
- Classification
- Formatted Medium
- engraving
- Medium
- engraving
- Departments
- Prints
- Accession Number
- 1925.991
- Credit Line
- Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland
- Exhibitions
- Italian and German Prints of the 15th Century, 15th Century German and Netherlands Prints from the Museum Collection, 15th Century German Engravings, Sacred and Profane in Late Gothic Prints
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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