# Saint John the Evangelist

**John Skippe** (British, 1742–1812)  
1771  
chiaroscuro woodcut in light and dark olive green  
sheet: 19.7 × 15.3 cm (7 3/4 × 6 in.) other (text beneath image): 3.2 × 15.2 cm (1 1/4 × 6 in.) mount (irreg.): 43.7 × 31.9 cm (17 3/16 × 12 9/16 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1973.58.2. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.54043.html).

## About this work

John Skippe made this in 1771, aged 29. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

This is a drawing of a seated figure on a large bird. The image depicts a classically draped figure seated on a stylized bird. The figure holds an open book and gazes into the distance. The bird has sharp features and spread wings. The background contains swirling clouds. The scene is framed with a border, and there is text at the bottom. The lines are bold and the shades are muted.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Woodcut.** A relief print. The block is cut away around the lines, so the lines stand up to take the ink, and the sheet is pressed onto them.

### [John Skippe](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/john-skippe)

British, 1742–1812

## Facts

- Type: Print
- The artist was 29
- Real size: about 8 × 6 in (20 × 15 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 18th century
- Subjects: bird, Portrait, Man, Writing, Frame
- Colour: olive
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1571.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1571/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/saint-john-the-evangelist-nga-54043).