Apostle Portrait "Saint John the Evangelist" - Holz, Leinen - 1750–1800 - Saint John the Evangelist

SHORT VERSION

Apostle Portrait "Saint John the Evangelist"

Oil on Canvas, probably 18th Century, mounted on stretcher frame

A half-length portrait confidently identified as Saint John the Evangelist by his youthful features and the characteristic golden chalice with a serpent. The work is executed in oil on canvas, displaying the calm, devotional style of late Baroque to early Neoclassicism. The figure is dressed in a rich red mantle over a deep green undergarment.

The painting is mounted on a later, professionally executed stretcher frame. It is in good, authentic condition with age-related craquelure and patina. It was originally part of a set of four apostle/evangelist paintings which are now all available in the auctions of my profile.

Dimensions: approx. 50 × 40 cm (19.7 x 15.7 inches).

Shipping Note: If you bid on more than one auction of the four apostles, you only pay shipment one time.


LONG VERSION

Title

Apostle Portrait “Saint John the Evangelist”
Oil on Canvas, probably 18th Century, mounted on stretcher frame

If you bid on more than one auction of the 4 apostles, you only pay shipment one time! So if you buy 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the paintings you only pay the shipment cost One Time.

This painting was originally part of a set of four works representing four apostles/evangelists. You now have the opportunity to bid on each of the four individually. The other three paintings are listed in separate auctions on my profile, and the final picture of the image gallery also shows the complete group.

From the characteristic iconography, one may confidently identify this figure as Saint John the Evangelist. He is traditionally depicted as the youngest apostle with soft, youthful facial features, gentle expression, and long, wavy hair. His most distinctive attribute in Christian art is the golden chalice containing a serpent, a symbolic reference to the “Poisoned Cup” miracle described in medieval legends about John. This attribute clearly appears in this painting, leaving no doubt regarding the identification.

Dimensions

Approx. 50 × 40 cm
(measured using the iPhone Measure App, therefore deviations are possible)

Object

Oil painting on canvas, presumably produced in the 18th century.
The work is mounted on a later but professionally crafted stretcher frame.

The surface exhibits age-related craquelure and a naturally developed patina typical of devotional artworks from this period.

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Depiction

Shown is a half-length portrait of Saint John the Evangelist, slightly turned to the right, in a calm and introspective pose. The saint is wrapped in a richly draped red mantle worn over a deep green undergarment. These colors are frequently associated with John in European sacred art of the Baroque and post-Baroque periods.

His youthful, beardless face is one of the defining features of John’s traditional iconography. The artist portrays him with:
• soft, rounded facial contours
• a clear, serene gaze slightly lifted toward the viewer
• long, gently wavy brown hair
• a delicately flushed complexion contributing to the overall impression of spiritual purity and contemplation

The saint’s right hand forms a classical blessing gesture, with two raised fingers — a gesture frequently found in depictions of evangelists and early Christian saints.

His left hand holds a golden chalice, from which a serpent emerges. This symbol refers to a well-known legend: John was challenged to drink a cup of poisoned wine but blessed the vessel, causing the poison to leave the cup in the form of a serpent. The presence of this attribute makes the identification of the saint unmistakable.

He is framed by a soft, luminous halo, subtly blended into the neutral background, emphasizing his sanctity without distracting from the overall composition.

The background is intentionally simple, displaying diffuse grey and ochre tones that place full emphasis on the figure and its devotional presence.

Technique and Style

The work is executed in oil on canvas and exhibits characteristics typical of late Baroque to early Neoclassical sacred painting:
• Face and hands are painted with smooth transitions and delicate glazes, lending the saint a gentle, spiritual presence.
• Garment folds are broadly modelled, especially in the voluminous red mantle, with effective use of warm highlights and soft shadows.
• Coloration: warm red tones contrast harmoniously with the cooler green of the undergarment, creating a balanced chromatic effect typical for representations of John.
• Lighting: soft, almost diffused illumination enhances the youthful features and highlights the chalice as the central symbolic element.
• Background: deliberately unobtrusive, softly blended, without sharp contours — a stylistic choice that enhances the meditative focus of the portrait.

The painting suggests the hand of a skilled workshop painter familiar with established iconographic patterns of European sacred art.

Dating and Context

Though unsigned, stylistic elements point to an 18th-century origin. Apostle or evangelist portraits of this type were commonly produced for:
• monastery interiors
• chapel altars
• devotional cycles in ecclesiastical or private religious spaces

The work aligns closely with the tradition of apostolic portrait cycles:
• half-length representation
• slight three-quarter turning
• emblematic attribute (chalice with serpent)
• strong focus on spiritual expression
• neutral, atmospheric background

The figure is not intended as an individualized portrait but as a theological type — an idealized representation of John’s purity, youth, and divine inspiration.

Stylistic Classification

The painting stands within the Central or Southern European late Baroque tradition, with certain Neoclassical tendencies visible in its soft lighting and psychological clarity.

The composition reflects classical principles:
• half-length saint
• isolated symbolic attribute (chalice)
• blessing gesture
• clearly defined silhouette against a neutral ground
• emphasis on calm, contemplative spirituality

The warm, harmonious coloration and serene expression are characteristic features of devotional art centered on John the Evangelist.

Framing

The artwork is currently mounted on a later stretcher frame, stable and functional.
No original historical frame is included.

It can be easily fitted into a new frame according to the buyer’s preference.

Condition
• Canvas: stable, without notable tears or material losses
• Paint layer: fine, even craquelure typical for artworks of this age
• Surface: lightly matte appearance with small age-related irregularities
• Patina: authentic, with no distracting overpainting visible based on photographic assessment
• Edges: minor abrasion consistent with normal aging

Overall, the condition is very good for a painting of this period.

Art Historical Significance and Interpretation

This painting is a representative example of 18th-century religious portraiture, where evangelists are presented in a devotional, idealized manner. John holds a special place in Christian iconography as the “beloved disciple,” symbol of purity, youth, and divine inspiration.

The chalice with the serpent is one of the most recognizable attributes of Christian symbolism and directly links this painting to medieval theological tradition and Baroque devotional storytelling.

The artwork thus carries significance in terms of:
• Christian iconography (miracle of the poisoned chalice)
• Baroque and early Neoclassical sacred aesthetics
• workshop-based production of apostle/evangelist cycles
• devotional function in religious settings

Conclusion

A finely executed and spiritually expressive 18th-century portrait of Saint John the Evangelist.
Its clear iconographic attributes, youthful physiognomy, and warm color palette make it a textbook example of traditional evangelical depiction within European sacred art.

Title: Apostle Portrait “Saint John the Evangelist”
Artist: Unknown, workshop painter of the 18th century
Technique: Oil on canvas
Date: Probably 18th century
Mounting: Later stretcher frame
Condition: Good, with authentic patina
Significance: Classic evangelist depiction, originally part of a larger apostolic cycle.