Revelation: Art, Images & Materials

Art, Images, Music, and Materials related to the Book of Revelation
compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

MUSIC related to the Book of Revelation:

Apocalyptic and Millennial Themes in Music - a very fine overview; from a student project by Erick Cifuentes
Michael Card: Unveiled Hope - a Contemporary Christian Music album entirely based on the Book of Revelation
Saviour Machine: Legend Trilogy - three albums of Christian Goth music based on Revelation; lyrics page by Aaron Austin; see also the official website of Saviour Machine
Songs of the Revelation of Jesus Christ! - "A Cantata of the Revelation Scripture", composed by Margaret Haines - NEW LINK

COLLECTIONS OF IMAGES on the Book of Revelation by Single Artists:

Revelation Paintings: new site by Robert Roberg, includes about 24 of his 100 paintings illustrating various scenes from Revelation (from his homepage, click on "Artist")
Beatus de Liébana, Codex Urgellensis: on-line collection of 25 out of the 91 illustrations from a 10th-century copy of Beatus of Liébana's Illustrated Commentary on the Apocalypse; this manuscript is in the Urgell Diocesean Museum in La Seu d'Urgell (Spain).
16 Woodcuts on "The Apocalypse of St. John" - by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528); from the Wetmore Print Collection, Connecticut College
The Doré Bible Illustrations - six woodcuts by Gustave Doré (1832-1883) depicting various scenes from Rev 1, 6, 12, 18, 20, and 21
Apocalypse: Meditations on the Visions of John - a series of 42 drawings by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College; see also my list of scripture references related to Steczynski's drawings
Revelation Illustrated - 35 modern artworks by Pat Marvenko Smith, from the artist's own website; five more of her paintings are also available on the Revelation Illustrated page of the JVIM website (# 3, 8, 19, 23, 39 on this site, depicting the scenes of Rev 1:12; 5:2; 11:12; 12:15; 21:9-10; respectively).
The Apocalypse: Book of Revelation Paintings - over 45 modern images by Florida artist Peter Olsen; each image set to music on a separate page
The Cloisters Apocalypse - illuminations from a 14th-century manuscript; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (restricted access)
Apocalyptic Art by Duncan Long - about a dozen images inspired by the Book of Revelation, and others with related themes
Apocalyptic Images by David Miles - "digitally created figurative interpretations of the word images presented in the Book of Revelation"
Basil Wolverton's Apocalypse - a collection of 16 "horrifying scenes of the end of the world as we know it", by cartoonist Basil Wolverton, now colorized by Monte Wolverton; each image also quotes related scripture passages
Apocamon: The Final Judgment - a brand new on-line digital comic book version of the Book of Revelation; by Patrick Farley (caution: contains some offensive language and sexual innuendo, but also uses many texts and images of Rev verbatim)
James Hampton's Throne of the Third Heaven - about 180 pieces made of scavanged material and foil, in part influenced by the Book of Revelation; by James Hampton (1909-1964).

INDIVIDUAL IMAGES AND MATERIALS pertaining to each Chapter of Revelation:

Rev 1 -

Map of the Cities in Revelation (Rev 1:4, 9, 11) - showing the Island of Patmos and the seven cities of Asia Minor; by Mike Campbell
Map of the Seven Churches of Asia and the Isle of Patmos (Rev 1:4) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Saint John on Patmos (Rev 1:9) - folio 17r from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (1413-1416)
Saint John on Patmos (Rev 1:9) - painting done 1485 by Hieronymus Bosch (c.1450-1516); now in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin; click here for another digital copy
John on Patmos (Rev 1:9) - painting of 1518 by German Renaissance artist Hans Burgkmair (1473-1531); now in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich; click here for another digital copy
Saint John on Patmos (Rev 1:9) - painting by Nicolas Poussin (ca. 1644); now in the Pinacoteca, Vatican City
St John the Evangelist on Pathmos (Rev 1:9) - oil on canvas, by Alonso Cano (1646-50); now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
John on Patmos (Rev 1:9) - woodcut illustration by French artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos (Rev 1:9) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
St. John's Vision of Christ and the Seven Candlesticks (Rev 1:9-20) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Christ among the Lampstands (Rev 1:12-20) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
John Turning ("to see the voice that was speaking to him" - Rev 1:12) - extra painting by Pat Marvenko Smith, only on the JVIM Website
Rev 1:9-10 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
One Like a Son of Man (Rev 1:9-2:1) - a digitally created figurative interpretation, by David Miles

Rev 2 -

Ephesus - the Perseus Project's "Site Catalog" for ancient Ephesos
Ephesus - photos of the Roman ruins of Ephesus in present-day Turkey, by Ross Taylor
Ephesus - historical overview and many pictures of ancient ruins in Ephesos (Efes), from the "Explore Turkey" website
The Ephesus Meeting - "a spiritual journey for all Christians"; planned for May 29, 2005
Smyrna - historical overview and some pictures of ancient ruins in modern-day Izmir, from the "Explore Turkey" website
Smyrna - the Perseus Project's "Site Catalog" for ancient Smyrna
Pergamum - the Perseus Project's "Site Catalog" for ancient Pergamon
Pergamum - historical overview and some pictures of ancient ruins, from the "Explore Turkey" website
Thyatira - brief article by Focus Online Magazine

Rev 3 -

Sardis - brief report by Harvard University Art Museum, with three photos
Sardis - brief article by Focus Online Magazine
Sardis - historical overview from a different "Explore Turkey" website
Philadelphia - brief article by Focus Online Magazine
Laodicea - brief article by Focus Online Magazine
Laodicea - historical overview from the "Explore Turkey" website

Rev 4 -

The Open Door in Heaven (Rev 4:1) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
St. John's Vision of God and the Elders (Rev 4:2-11) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
The Four and Twenty Elders Casting their Crowns before the Divine Throne (ca. 1803) - by William Blake (1757-1827); now in the Tate Gallery, London
The Emerald Throne Scene in Heaven (Rev 4:2-11) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Casting Crowns before the Throne (Rev 4:10) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Throne in Heaven (Rev 4:2-11) - a digitally created figurative interpretation, by David Miles
The Four Living Creatures (Rev 4:6-11) - my own collection of various images of the creatures, later connected to the four evangelists
Rev 4:1 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 4:2-8; 5:1-3 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 5 -

The Mighty Angel ("Who is worthy to open the scroll?" - Rev 5:2) - extra painting by Pat Marvenko Smith, only on the JVIM Website
Vision of St. John, showing God and the Lamb surrounded by the four living creatures and 24 elders (Rev 5:6-14) - central panel of the Polyptych of the Apocalypse, by Jacobello Alberegno (Venice; d. 1397), in the Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice
The Adoration of the Lamb (Rev 5) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
The Opening of the Sealed Scroll (Rev 5:5-14) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Rev 4:2-8; 5:1-3 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 5:6-13 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 6 -

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Rev 6:1-8) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
click here or here for smaller copies
The First Four Seals; Four Horsemen (Rev 6:1-8) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Rev 6:1-8) - a digitally created figurative interpretation, by David Miles
The Fourth Horseman (Rev 6:8) - woodcut illustration by French artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
The Fifth Seal; Souls of the Martyrs (Rev 6:9-11) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Vision of Saint John (Rev 6:9-11) - painting of the saints receiving white robes; by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos; 1541-1614)
And the Moon Became as Blood (Rev 6:12) - modern painting by Howard Finster (1976); from the Smithsonian American Art Museum website
The Sixth Seal; Destruction in Nature (Rev 6:12-17) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals (Rev 6:12-17) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Rev 6:1-2 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 6:4 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 6:5-6 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 6:7-8 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 6:9-11 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 6:13-17 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 7 -

Angels Restraining the Four Winds (Rev 7:1) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Receiving the Seal of God (Rev 7:2-8) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
144,000 Sealed and the Multitude in White Robes (Rev 7:3-10) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rev 7:4-8) - my own simple chart of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
The Adoration of the Lamb - from "The Ghent Altarpiece" (1425-29), by Jan van Eyck - click here for another copy
Rev 7:1-10 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 7:15-17 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 8 -

The Seven Angels with Trumpets (Rev 8:2, 6) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
The Seventh Seal; Seven Angels, Seven Trumpets (Rev 8) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
First Six Trumpet Judgements (Rev 8:6-13 and Rev 9) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Rev 8:1-6 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 8:7 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 8:9 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 8:10-11 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 8:12-13 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 9 -

The Fith and Sixth Trumpets (Rev 9:1-21) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Rev 9:1-3, 10 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 9:13-19 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Locusts from the Abyss - (Rev 9:1-11) - a digitally created figurative interpretation, by David Miles

Rev 10 -

St. John Swallowing the Little Scroll (Rev 10:1-10) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
The Angel and the Little Scroll (Rev 10) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Rev 10:1-9 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 11 -

The Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet Judgement (Rev 11) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Two Witnesses Ascending to Heaven (Rev 11:12) - extra painting by Pat Marvenko Smith, only on the JVIM Website
Rev 11:15--12:4 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 12 -

The Dragon with Seven Heads and the Apocalyptic Woman (Rev 12:1-6) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun (ca. 1805) - painting by William Blake (1757-1827); now in the National Gallery of Art, Washington
The Woman and the Dragon (Rev 12:1-6) - woodcut illustration by French artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
The Woman and the Dragon (Rev 12:1-6) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
St. Michael and His Angels Fight the Dragon (Rev 12:7-9) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
click here or here for another copy, slightly smaller
The Woman Clothed with the Sun (Rev 12:1-6) - a digitally created figurative interpretation, by David Miles
War in Heaven; Michael Defeats the Dragon (Rev 12:7-12 ) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Woman with the Wings of an Eagle (Rev 12:14) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Dragon Spewing Water to Overtake the Woman (Rev 12:15-16) - extra painting by Pat Marvenko Smith, only on the JVIM Website
Rev 12:5 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 12:7 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 12:13-17a - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 13 -

The Seven-Headed Beast and the Second Beast (Rev 13:1-10, 11-18) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
The Great Red Dragon and the Beast from the Sea (ca. 1805) - by William Blake (1757-1827); National Gallery of Art, Washington
The Number of the Beast (Rev 13:18) - some modern fun with the number 666 that was circulated by e-mail
The Three Beasts and 666 (Rev 13) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Rev 13:1-3 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 13:11 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 13:14-15; 14:1-10 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 14 -

The Messages of the Three Angels -
Rev 14:15-20 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 15 -

The Sea of Glass -

Rev 16 -

The Seven Bowl Judgements (Rev 16) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Plagues of the Seven Bowls (Rev 16) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Rev 16:1-13 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Vision from Book of Revelation - a modern painting partly influenced by Rev 16; by McKendree Robbins Long, Sr. (1966); from the Smithsonian American Art Museum website

Rev 17 -

The Woman of Babylon (Rev 17:1-18) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
Oval Dish with the Whore of Babylon (c. 1570) - by Martial Courteys, Limoges; from National Gallery of Art
Babylon the Great Riding the Beast - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Woman on the Beast (Rev 17:1-18) - a digitally created figurative interpretation, by David Miles
Rev 17:1-2 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 17:3-6a - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 17:16; 18:9-10 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 18 -

The Fall of Babylon (Rev 18:5) - woodcut illustration by French artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883)

Rev 19 -

King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:11-16) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Beast and False Prophet Cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 19:20) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Rev 19:1-10 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 19:11-20 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 20 -

The Angel with the Key to the Pit (Rev 20:1-3) - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
click here or here for smaller copies
The Angel with the Great Chain (Rev 20:1-2) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Dragon, Chained (Rev 20:3) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Dragon, Released to Gather the Nations for Battle (Rev 20:7-8) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Dragon Thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Great White Throne Judgement (Rev 20:11-13) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Books are Opened and also the Book of Life (Rev 20:12-13) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Lake of Fire (Rev 20:14-15) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Final Judgement (Rev 20:12) - woodcut illustration by French artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
The Last Judgement (Rev 20) - Painting on Altar Wall of Sistine Chapel, by Michelangelo (1535-1541)
Rev 20:1-10 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 20:11-12 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 20:14-15 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 21 -

The New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2) - woodcut illustration by French artist Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
The City Four-Square; New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-21) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Foundations of the City (Rev 21:12-14, 19-20) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
Through the Gate of the Eternal City (Rev 21:21-27; 22:1-6) - modern painting by Pat Marvenko Smith of "Revelation Illustrated"
The Angel with the Measuring Rod (Rev 21:9-10) - extra painting by Pat Marvenko Smith, only on the JVIM Website
"Revelation 21: A View of the New Jerusalem" - a painting by physicist and artist A. J. Meyer, on the "Artistic Enterprises" site
Rev 21:1-16 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 21:22--22:2 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Rev 22 -

John Falls at the Feet of the Angel (Rev 22:8) - Painting of 1635 by Alonso Cano (1601-67); now in the Wallace Collection, London - another copy at the Web Gallery of Art
Rev 22:16-17 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College
Rev 22:20-21 - a modern "Meditation on the Visions of John"; by Prof. John Steczynski, Boston College

Depictions of Related Stories and Legends:

Virgin and Child appearing to St. John (cf. Rev 12:1-6) - Book Cover by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)
The Martyrdom of St. John - woodcut by German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

Other Collections of Apocalyptic and Utopian Art:

Apocalyptic Theories in Old English: Gallery - a very well-designed new collection by Carolin Esser, with images related to each chapter of the Book of Revelation; many images are by William Blake or Albrecht Dürer.
Apocalypse Now and Then: art and the end of time - from the Art Gallery of DePaul University
Digital Art by Ted Larson - focusing on the Book of Daniel and the Book of Zechariah
Millennium Art - "Experience the Visionary Art of a New Millennium!"; a commercial site with several galleries, discussion forums, gift shop, etc.

Some Books with Collections of Apocalyptic Art:

Grubb, Nancy. Revelations: Art of the Apocalypse. New York/London/Paris: Abbeville Publishers, 1997.
Manley, Roger. The End is Near! Visions of Apocalypse, Millennium, and Utopia. Los Angeles: Dilettante Press, 1998. - contains dozens of prints and essays, based on a large and fascinating recent exhibition at the American Visionary Art Museum (Baltimore).
Barberis, Irene. Revelation - Apocalypse. South Yarra, Victoria, Australia: Macmillan Art Publishing, 2000.
Carey, Frances. The Apocalypse and the Shape of Things to Come. London: British Museum Press; Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999.
The Cloisters Apocalypse. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1971.
Maius (fl. 926-968). A Spanish Apocalypse: The Morgan Beatus Manuscript (Pierpont Morgan Library, M. 644). Ed. by John Williams & Barbara A. Shailor. New York: G. Braziller, 1991.
van der Meer, Frederick. Apocalypse: Visions from the Book of Revelation in Western Art. New York: Alpine Fine Arts Collection, 1978.

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