The Apocalypse Triptych

The Apocalypse Triptych
© Cecilia Lawrence
December 31st 2017
Ink and Watercolor
4.25x11.5 inches;
8.5x11.5 inches;
4.25x11.5 inches

This is my last art piece for 2017 and I spent quite a few hours on it (slaved over it, really)! This was my submission for the 2017 Apocalypse Contest in which the contestants were supposed to do three panels depicting various scenes from the Book of Revelations in the medieval analogical style. Stylistically, I was inspired by the famous Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, the work of Jean Bourdichon, and the Morgan/Maciejowski Bible.

I: The Lamb and the Seven Seals (Revelations 6)

The left panel of the Apocalypse Triptych features the Lamb and the Seven Seals (from Revelations 6). Christ as the Lamb of God is symbolically represented with seven eyes and seven horns and rests on a book with seven seals dangling from it. Surrounding the Lamb are the four living creatures, and under the Lamb is the altar under which are the martyrs being clothed in white robes and praying to the Lamb. Beneath the heavens (represented by the clouds) are the four living creatures with banners saying "Veni et vide" which is Latin for "Come and see." Under the four living creatures are the blackened sun and the blood-red moon, the falling stars and the four riders of the Apocalypse, trampling on the bodies of the slain. Beneath them is the earth as it quakes, with people hiding in caves and under the mountains.

Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!”

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come!” I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; they cried out with a loud voice, “Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?” They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

II: The Throne in Heaven (Revelations 4)

The top of the central panel features God the Father seated on a golden throne surrounded by the Four Living Creatures and the twenty-four elders with golden crowns and the hosts of heaven. Before Him is the sea of glass and the seven torches or lamps. The Lamb holds a scroll with the seven seals in a nimbus over God the Father's breast.

“After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal.

Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing,

“Holy, holy, holy,
the Lord God the Almighty,
   who was and is and is to come.”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
   and by your will they existed and were created.”

The Battle between Christ and the Beast (Revelations 19:11-21)

Beneath the scene of Heavenly worship is the Battle of Christ and the Heavenly armies warring against the armies of the Beast. Over Christ's head are the words "Fidelis et Verax" (Latin for "Faithful and True”). A sharp, two-edged sword comes from his mouth. On his thigh is written "Rex regum et Dominum Dominantium" (Latin for "King of kings and Lord of lords") and on Christ's shield are the words “Verbum Dei" ("The Word of God"). His robes are dipped in blood, and his holds the cross as the "rod of iron" with which He rules the nations. Behind him are the angels riding white horses as they go into battle. Above Christ is the angel in the sun telling the birds of the sky to feast on the slain. Under the hooves of Christ's horse, the birds are doing just that. Opposite the heavenly armies are the kings of the world, and leading them is the Beast with ten horns and ten diadems. An angel above is chaining the dragon to throw him into the pit.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.” Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.”

John on Patmos (Revelations 1:9)

At the very bottom of the central panel is John seated on Patmos with an angel pointing upward to indicate the vision of all of the Book of Revelations that John sees and records. A red flame also comes down from the cloud (representing heaven), and this flame symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the spirit of prophecy by which John sees these things.

“I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”

III: The Woman and the Dragon (Revelations 12:1-9)

The third panel is divided into two sections. At the top is the Woman clothed with Sun, standing on the moon, with twelve stars as her crown. She holds her Child up to the angels to protect Him, and the angels take the Child up to the Throne of God. Two other angels give the woman a pair of wings with which to flee from the dragon. The dragon, meanwhile, is being thrown down to earth by St. Michael and the hosts of heaven. The dragon’s tail throws down a third of the stars in the sky, which represents the demons who fell with him. These demons are represented as small black shapes which fall as the angels cast them down.

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”