BOTTICELLI, Sandro
(b. 1445, Firenze, d. 1510, Firenze)

St John on Patmos

1490-92
Tempera on panel, 21 x 269 cm (entire predella)
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

This is the first scene on the single panel predella of the San Marco Altarpiece.

St John was exiled to the Greek island of Patmos by the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96). This is where he was believed to have written the Book of Revelations. Surrounded by the waves, the saint is sitting with his legs crossed on a bare rock and is writing down his visions.