St. John the Apostle

Museum:
SNM Museum of Bojnice, Slovakia

Identifier:
XI-1530

Material:
linden wood

Techniques of production:
cutting, polychrome, gilding

Dimensions:
height 96 cm, width 30 cm, depth 22 cm

Provenance and dating:
Gothic

Description:
Compact sculpture, figure of a young man in a long robe standing in contrapposto. Under his left arm he holds a book (attribute of St. John the Apostle), the right hand holds the upper mantle. St. John was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Together with his brother James and Peter, they were Jesus' closest. Eastern Churches commonly called him Theologian.

The Bible

Around the year 70AD, St. John wrote the fourth Gospel of John, that's why he is often referred as John the Evangelist. He had the knowledge of the previous three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). Therefore, his Gospel describes a number of events that other Gospels don't and that he experienced during his life with Jesus. He is also the author of three John's letters and the Book of Revelation. Another symbol St. John the Evangelist is the eagle.

Young face

St. John was the youngest of the apostles. Perhaps that's why he is also called "the beloved of the Lord". This renaissance-like realistic sculpture shows him as a young man with curly hair.