Saint John on Patmos

Isolated on the Greek island of Patmos, a youthful Saint John inscribes the opening words of his account of the life of Christ on a scroll draped across his lap. An inkpot and the carrying case for his quill pen are at his feet, and his symbol, the eagle, is perched in front of him. The illuminator, Georges Trubert, depicted the nearby islands and ships with careful precision. Especially remarkable are the two distant islands, which appear in very faint blue on the horizon.