The Apocalypse manuscript begins with the life of the apostle Saint John, thought to be the author of the Apocalypse. In this miniature, grotesquely featured men bring John before the Roman Emperor Domitian, shown on the left. With an imperial gesture, Domitian orders his men to throw John into a cauldron of boiling oil, shown on the right. John emerges unharmed, a miracle signified by the dove of the Holy Spirit above his head.
The green color staining the miniature is copper-green pigment showing through from the other side of the page.