We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: 25325:2
Find out about our images

Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case I, Shelf 14, Box C

St. John the Evangelist

Engraving
after 1510 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Like his contemporary, Albrecht Dürer, Lucas van Leyden was internationally recognised within his lifetime and beyond. Giorgio Vasari, writing in 1568, praised Leyden's fine engraving style and his use of perspective. Fine quality early impressions of his prints are rare. Copper printing plates are capable of producing only one or two hundred fine impressions before the plate starts to wear down, especially with a fine line engraving style as Leyden's. Such was Leyden's reputation and his prints so sought by collectors that his original printing plates were kept and impressions taken from them long after his death, resulting in a larger number of surviving poor and worn impressions than fine ones. Numerous copies were also made from his originals, which satisfied demand when originals were not available or affordable and for collectors of images interested more in subject matter.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • St. John the Evangelist (generic title)
  • Christ and the Apostles (series title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving in ink on paper
Brief description
Engraving, St. John the Evangelist, from the series of fourteen prints of Christ and the Apostles, copy after Lucas Hugensz van Leyden (called Lucas Jacobsz).
Physical description
St. John the Evangelist stands facing front but looking right. He is holding a chalice in which is a small dragon. He wears a collared tunic and a cloak and has a large halo behind him. He is quite young with long hair and no beard.
Dimensions
  • Cropped height: 11.3cm
  • Cropped width: 7.3cm
  • Backing height: 13.35cm
  • Backing width: 9.3m
Style
Production typeCopy
Marks and inscriptions
L (Artist initial inscribed on plate, bottom left)
Subjects depicted
Summary
Like his contemporary, Albrecht Dürer, Lucas van Leyden was internationally recognised within his lifetime and beyond. Giorgio Vasari, writing in 1568, praised Leyden's fine engraving style and his use of perspective. Fine quality early impressions of his prints are rare. Copper printing plates are capable of producing only one or two hundred fine impressions before the plate starts to wear down, especially with a fine line engraving style as Leyden's. Such was Leyden's reputation and his prints so sought by collectors that his original printing plates were kept and impressions taken from them long after his death, resulting in a larger number of surviving poor and worn impressions than fine ones. Numerous copies were also made from his originals, which satisfied demand when originals were not available or affordable and for collectors of images interested more in subject matter.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Bartsch, Adam von. Le Peintre Graveur. Leipzig, J.A. Barth, 1854-1876.
  • The New Hollstein: Dutch & Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts, 1450-1700. Roosendaal. Koninklijke Van Poll in cooperation with the Rijksprentenkabinet, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1993-
  • Cornelis, Bart and Jan Piet Filedt Kok. The taste for Lucas van Leyden prints. In: Simiolus - Netherlands Quarterly for the History of Art. 26: 1/2 (1998).
Other number
Bartsch 90
Collection
Accession number
25325:2

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdSeptember 24, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSON